News : Rook and Ne Obliviscaris to headline PROGFEST 2009

In the halcyon days of 2008, OzProg.com brought together a rag-tag bunch of bands from Melbourne and Sydney to showcase the burgeoning field of Australian progressive rock. The inaugural Prog Fest concert in Melbourne was a huge success, but this is a new year and that’s not going to cut it any more.

Australia has been punching above its weight in the global progressive rock scene since the turn of the century, with an embarrassment of riches from every corner of the country. So the number of acts has quadrupled from six to 24 as Prog Fest brings the best of four states to two massive shows in Canberra and Sydney on the weekend of May 15th–17th, 2009.

OzProg.com, The Bird’s Robe Collective, Welkin Entertainment, Skworq Music and Tiger Panic Records proudly present the two-city, three-day, multi-stage Prog Fest extravaganza!

The Basement in Canberra will play host to NE OBLIVISCARIS (VIC), ELEVENTH HE REACHES LONDON (WA), AEON OF HORUS, SLEEPMAKESWAVES (NSW), MUSHROOM GIANT (VIC), …LIKE FOXES and HEIRS (VIC) on Friday, May 15th, before 23 bands from all over Australia are crammed into the Annandale Hotel in Sydney over two huge days on May 16th and 17th. The full Sydney line-up includes:

PROGFEST 2009 – Sydney Lineup
* also playing PROGFEST Canberra

ROOK (VIC)
NE OBLIVISCARIS (VIC)*
CODA
ELEVENTH HE REACHES LONDON (WA)*
AEON OF HORUS (ACT)*
SLEEPMAKESWAVES*
MUSHROOM GIANT (VIC)*
PIRATE
MIRRORSESSIONS
SUPER FLORENCE JAM
NUCLEUS
SUPERB LYREBIRD
CAPTAIN KICKARSE & THE AWESOMES
RINCON (VIC)
SPACE PROJECT
MELADORA
I LIKE CATS
MISH
SLIMEY THINGS
TOY DEATH
HEIRS (VIC)*
MAY
TEN THOUSAND FREE MEN & THEIR FAMILIES
…LIKE FOXES (Canberra only)

Tickets are available from the venues — please visit their websites at www.annandalehotel.com.au and www.thebasementact.com. Stay tuned to OzProg.com for information on running times and much more closer to the show date.

Prog Fest at the Basement (18+)
Friday, May 15th, 2009
2 Cohen Street, Belconnen – (02) 6251 4541
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=61797094172
http://www.last.fm/event/998375

Prog Fest at the Annandale Hotel (18+)
Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th, 2009
17 Parramatta Road, Annandale – (02) 9550 1078
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=63854761329
http://www.last.fm/event/998339