THE INTRO
The Progressive Music Awards return – we’ve got all the nominations inside. Plus the latest news from Dweezil Zappa, Steve Davis, The Flaming Lips, iamthemorning, District 97 and more…
THE PROGRESSIVE MUSIC Awards are back at London’s Underglobe, beneath Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, on September 12. The event, now in its eighth year, acknowledges the very best progressive artists, releases, events and musicians from the last 12 months.
Previous Award winners Dream Theater and Steve Hackett lead the nominations with three apiece, followed by a host of acts with two, including King Crimson, Devin Townsend, The Pineapple Thief, Marillion, Big Big Train, Gong, Mostly Autumn, Thumpermonkey and more.
“As usual, it was a tough process to whittle down what starts as a long list for every category into a shortlist of 10 nominees,” says Prog Magazine Editor Jerry Ewing.“The Album Of The Year alone had us agonising over who made the final list, such is the quality of progressive albums released in the last 12 months.”
Previous years have welcomed a star-studded cast of guests, including Peter Gabriel, Jon Anderson, Steve Hackett, Carl Palmer and Marillion, who’ve all been awarded distinctive Prog gongs.
This year, there will be eight categories in which you, the Prog readers, can make your voices heard. These include Video
Of The Year, Album
Of The Year, Best
International Band/Artist,
Best UK Band/Artist and
Limelight, which showcases the best up-and-coming bands chosen from this magazine’s section of the same name.
Elsewhere, Pink Floyd alumni Roger
Waters and Nick Mason are both nominated in the Event Of The
Year category, alongside former winners Marillion. Who will win this year’s coveted accolade? It’s down to you to decide.
Could Big Big Train, 2018’s winners of Album Cover Of The Year, win UK Band/Artist Of The Year? Or will they be pipped to the post by King Crimson? Or even Haken? The choice is yours!
In addition to the reader-voted categories, there are a further seven awards, which are chosen by prog insiders. These include the Outer Limits, Chris Squire Virtuoso and Industry VIP. This year there’s also a new award for Classic Album.
“It’s a special year for us,” adds Ewing. “The magazine is 10 years old this year, and we’ll have released 100 issues by the time the Awards comes around. We thought it would be nice to start honouring some of the prog world not just for their own individual prowess, but for some of the most amazing albums that have been made in the history of music. As always, the magazine staff always get very excited when the issue to announce the nominees is printed. This year is no exception. The double anniversary means we want to make certain this year is one that no one forgets.”
We will be announcing the host, live entertainment and the mighty Prog God over the next few issues and we’ll also be bringing you live coverage of the event on the night via the Prog Magazine website. Keep your eyes peeled for Prog’s souvenir issue as well, which goes on sale on October 25.
Now head over the page to find the full list of the nominees in the reader-voted categories and then head over to www.loudersound.com/ progawards and cast your votes! NRS
“The magazine is 10 years old this year, and we’ll have released 100 issues. The double anniversary means we want to make certain this year is one that no one forgets.”
Prog Editor Jerry Ewing