Tamás Csemez (lead vocals) / Tom Tattersall (guitars and vocals) / Phil Burns (keyboards and vocals) / Eva Gillett (woodwind and violin) / Mike Farmer (bass and vocals) / Adam Aggiss (drums)
There’s hardly a day goes by now when one of my favourite prog musicians or heroes doesn’t pop his proverbial clogs to go and play on the eternal celestial stage, and because of this it’s clear that there will always be a demand for tribute bands in order to hear all that beautiful music played live; Progfathers were – and still are – terrific exponents of just such music. I saw them back in 2013 when they played an extraordinary mix of the stuff that I was listening to back in the 1970s. Truth be told, it’s pretty much all that I still listen to now too. I remember that they played a good long set, split by a short interval and featuring music by King Crimson, Genesis, Camel, ELP and Yes, all to a great degree of accuracy, which really pleased both me and my mate Nigel. The band’s own website describes the band thus: “Progfathers brings together some of the UK’s most accomplished tribute and session musicians, experienced in many genres, but all with a passion for Prog. Presented with a flair that’s characteristic of the style, Progfathers perform the work of Genesis, Yes, King Crimson, Van Der Graaf Generator, Camel, Jethro Tull, Gentle Giant, ELP and more… essentially the Fathers of British Prog! Delivered with precise musicianship, attention to detail, custom made projection films, sax, flutes, and even a Mellotron! The performance celebrates the Fathers of British Progressive Rock, See a stunning celebration of British Prog Rock that is not to be missed!”
*I am indebted to Phil Burns of the band for supplying me with details of both the line-up and the setlist. Cheers, Phil – hope to see you again somewhere near me soon!
Setlist: Watcher of the Skies (Genesis); Heart of the Sunrise (Yes); Darkness (Van Der Graaf Generator); Funny Ways (Gentle Giant); Rhayader Suite (Camel); Starless (King Crimson); *Interval*; Fanfare for the Common Würm (ELP/Yes); Thick as a Brick (Jethro Tull); Just the Same (GG); Killer (VDGG); Firth of Fifth (Genesis); Roundabout (Yes); Encore – In the Court of the Crimson King (KC); I Know What I Like (Genesis)
I failed to grab a poster advertising the gig at the venue on the night but writing to the band at their website secured one! 🙂
The band have their own website here featuring lots of audio and video so you can see just how good they really are.
Gigs'n'Stuff 