Readers’ Poll_______

Prog readers have their say on the best of 2018. Who were the winners?

This being our first actual issue of 2019, Prog’s new year starts with a glance over our shoulder at the picks of 2018. Last issue you had the chance to take in the Prog writers’ favourite albums of the year. Now it’s your turn, the readers, for your choices for the 2018 Readers’ Poll. I read some comments online suggesting that 2018 was a bit of a fallow period for the genre. Really? Casting my eye over the results this year, I’m not so certain that rings true. Okay, so there were no new releases from the perceived ‘big hitters’ of the genre, but that doesn’t mean what was released lacked quality. Far from it. And it didn’t stop more of you than ever sending in your votes. What it does do is open up the prog world and allow some artists who are very much in the upward trajectory of their own careers to bask in some deserved limelight. And it is good to see different talent in the spotlight. He may have won two Progressive Music Awards in 2018, but this is the first year that Steven Wilson hasn’t won a category in the Readers’ Poll! A changing of the guard?

A big thank you very much to you, the readers, for taking the time to vote. And a big congratulations to the winners and everyone who features in their respective categories, who are all doing their part to keep the scene thriving. It points to a fascinating 2019 for progressive music. I’d be keen to hear your thoughts. Drop me an email at: prog@futurenet.com. Thanks.

BaNd

1. BIG BIG TRAIN

“We are so grateful for

the support of the wonderful prog rock community. We look

forward to meeting listeners on our first UK tour in the autumn and

further afield in 2020.”

Big Big Train

2. RIVERSIDE 3. MARILLION 4. KING CRIMSON 5. THE PINEAPPLE THIEF

6. CAMEL 7. IAMTHEMORNING

8. LIFESIGNS 9. SOUTHERN EMPIRE

10. MAGENTA