It's not Prog?

It's not Prog?

I must admit I really enjoyed the is it prog or isn't prog debate about Ark which is the first track be streamed off the new Fierce And The Dead record. It's in 5/8 with unusual chords and is completely instrumental, yet some people had the "it's not prog" thing. I don't honestly know. Or care much. My main interest is making interesting records and playing them live. You just don't think of stuff like that when you are making the album.  I love Sonic Youth as much as King Crimson. 

I'm sitting here listening to the half completed tracks for my solo record, need to get it ready to send to the guest musicians on it next. I can't wait to play you it. It's like Jesu/Crimson/Mahazvishnu stuff then some electronic stuff then some soundtracky stuff. I'm really pleased with it, so far. 

Rehearsal for Ards Guitar Festival this morning, recording Lucid this afternoon then a meeting with BEM tonight. Busy busy :) 

Pre Order The New Fierce And The Dead Album Now

Here we go, this is the big event of 2013 for me. The new album by the band i play guitar in, The Fierce & The Dead is available to pre-order now via our label Bad Elephant and you can hear the first track off it. I honestly think it's the best thing I've played on.

This is such a big project for the band and if you like it please tell your friends. This means so much to us....

http://music.badelephant.co.uk/album/spooky-action

If you pre-order you get a bonus track.

I hope to see some of you on Friday at my first gig in Northern Ireland:

http://www.ardsguitarfestival.co.uk/

All the best and thanks so much for your continued support. I feel so lucky to have this audience.

Thanks loads

Matt Stevens

http://www.fierceandthedead.com

http://www.mattstevensguitar.com

Last week to get something free :)

This is the last week to get all of the albums by the band I play guitar in The Fierce & The Dead for FREE or pay what you want. Actually paying really makes a big difference in keeping us on the road :) Please tell your friends, post on a forum or share on Facebook or Twitter. It makes a Massive difference. 

http://thefierceandthedead.bandcamp.com/

Just 4 more solo gigs left this year unless anything dramatic happens. Ards guitar festival in Northern Ireland looks really exciting and I can't wait to support RM Hubbert, Thoman Leeb and Solstice. Full details of those gigs here"

http://www.mattstevensguitar.com/page2.htm

And....  The new solo record Lucid is NEARLY done, I'm very pleased to say my friend Jem Godfrey of Frost* has played an incredible keyboard solo on one of the tracks. Esoteric will release it early in 2014. Very excited about this.... 

The Northampton Clown

The Fierce and The Dead deny any connection.

Full story at 

http://www.northampton-news-hp.co.uk/News/Northampton-News/Spooky-clown-mystery-grips-Northampton-14092013.htm

The Prog Awards

Congratulations to all the winners and nominees at the Classic Rock Presents Prog Awards. Was a great night :)

Very cool ceremony top work Jerry and the prog mag team. I was with my friend Twang the legendary prog promoter and he said "F****** that's Bill Oddie" :) Mad night.

Great to see the Big Big Train Guys, Andy Tillison, Sid Smith, Tim Bowness and Pete from Burning Shed, the Amplifier guys, John Mitchell, Kim from Touchstone and the wonderful Cherry Red/Esoteric team with Oliver Wakeman, Frostie, the mighty Sanguine Hum and Mark and Vicky amongst others.

Everyone I spoke to was really nice. Thats prog for you.

Awesome :)

Good fun all round :)

A Night At The Peel

I had a night at The Peel, with a lovely supportive crowd. As a last minute stand in for my friend Simon Godfrey who couldn't play. Simon is a lovely bloke.

Some people really don't like what I do:

Doug Anderson "What a great evening it was. Three cracking acts and a last minute replacement that provided a nice gap to go for food. Having just the tree acts would have given Mr So&So a full set which would have been splendid.

My wallet is lighter but my CC collection is 7 larger."

I shortened my set to get the night back on track, I had no control of the running order, I didn't know I was playing until the day before. I thought I was helping out a friend not ruining Mr Anderson's evening. I hope he enjoys his CCs. 

I think my solo set was going somewhere but I'm not sure where, more improvisation, more weird noises. Is that appropriate to these gigs? I don't know? I know I'm going to take a break from UK solo gigs until the new solo album is out in 2014 after this run of shows. 

I love the audience at The Peel and I'm forever grateful for their support. They really listen and are a lovely bunch of people. 

I really enjoyed what I saw of the other bands sets. Talented people all, and everyone was lovely. Real sense of community. I know most people wanted to see Simon. So did I! Twang is still the best promoter out there, what a decent bloke.  

All my studio albums are available for a quid each for the next day at my bandcamp.

Speak soon, dear friends.

Allan Holdsworth UK/Europe Tour Cancelled

I must admit I'm gutted about this. Was SO looking forward to supporting Allan.

"Allan Holdsworth - European Tour November 2014 Update (from Leonardo Pavkovic, MoonJune Records & Management, Allan Holdsworth booking manager). - Dear friends and fans of Allan in the UK, Holland, Germany, Belgium and France. We regret to say that we have to cancel the upcoming European tour in November and to postpone our European plans for May 2014. We apologize to all fans for the inconvenience. Allan will take a well deserved break and focus strictly on his personal matters. MoonJune Records & Management will issue another statement about upcoming plans related to Allan's career later this Fall. Allan sends his best regards to all fans and friends worldwide. He will be back.... Thanks. Leonardo Pavkovic."