Is Latin-America becoming the new prog leader?

P.H.P. wrote: Prog-Brazil wrote: Vlad V I don't know too. I think Congreso should be in PA. Maybe in Prog-related category. At least the albuns I know seems to me traditional pop with prog influences:   El congreso (1971) Viaje por la cresta del mundo (1981) Pop? Congreso?? no way! they have traditional folk influences, not pop.

Congreso are being evaluated by the Crossover Team... I've heard a good number of samples, and I think they do belong here - probably in Prog-Folk, but we'll see.

Ghost Rider wrote: Congreso are being evaluated by the Crossover Team... I've heard a good number of samples, and I think they do belong here - probably in Prog-Folk, but we'll see.

Nice to hear that!

Well, Congreso's style has always been changing, in the 80's they took a more eclectic direction, flirting with way many music styles like symphonic, fusion, jazz, even avantguarde music, etc; so they are hard to categorize, though their music is always pleasant to hear.

Vaize wrote: Besides from the pure prog (please excuse me for diverting from it) there is a wide range of Brazilian artits and bands with really interesting works... For music with at strong interface with the prog area, I suggest hearing Hermeto Paschoal (incredible experimental performer) and Egberto Gismonti (virtuose on acoustic guitar and keyboards). Other good musicians that worth to hear: Wagner Tiso, Milton Nascimento, Beto Guedes, Lô Borges, Lucia Turnbull, Novos Bahianos, Tomzé, Cassia Eller, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Raul Seixas, Zé Ramalho, Zeca Baleiro... And it is also valid to check more popular rock bands such as A Cor do Som, Barão Vermelho, Blitz, Camisa de Vênus, Capital Inicial, Charlie Brown Jr, Engenheiros do Hawaii, Ira!, Jota Quest, Legião Urbana, Los Hermanos, Mamonas Assassinas, Paralamas do Sucesso, Raimundos, Pato Fu, Skank, Titãs, Ultraje a Rigor...

P.H.P. wrote: Pop? Congreso?? no way! they have traditional folk influences, not pop.

Cesar Inca wrote: South American bands are gradually gaining more presence in prog festivals worldwide. The most recent case has been the amazing prog-metal band OCTUPOS, from Chile, who have taken part of the latest Crescendo and aditionally played a few gigs in various European cities. Concerning the business aspect, well, business as usual, oblivion from the large distributors, and only reliance on mouth-to-mouth local audiences (inc. Myspace and others) and retail purchases across small online companies. But although marginal, there is a serious infrastructure for this kind of musical offering in festivals such as Art Rock Rio, Santiago Art Rock and, of course, BajaProg.     Kind regards.

Hola, Cesar, quanto tiempo...

Yes, the festivals are always a good way to listen to new bands...

Following the success of the visit of the bands Flor de Loto and Exsimio last year, next month (October 6th and 7th) will take place the 12th edition of the Rio ArtRock Festival 2007.


Basically the same program will be repeated in the 2nd FESTPROG DE MACAÉ, produced by the Sociedade Musical Macaense, to be held in Macaé City, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, October 9th and 10th.

This year the festivals will present the following bands:

- SPIN XXI (Niterói, Brazil)
SPIN made history in the seventies in Niterói. In a second phase used other name (Contraponto), returning years ago as Spin XXI, when released the CD “Contraponto”. Their songs reminds the souns of bands such as O Terço, Mutantes, Genesis, Yes...

- Violeta de Outono (São Paulo, Brazil)
Very well known in this forum, Violeta de Outono just released its seventh studio album ("Volume 7"), with deeper psicodelic e progressive influênces, resembling Pink Floyd, Gong, Caravan, Camel, Steve Hillage...

- Trettioariga Kriget (Stockholm, Sweden)
Trettioariga Kriget (the name means “30 years war”, in swedish) is one of the more important bands from Sweden, active since the 1970. I will not comment more about it here, since the focus is on latin-american bands...
But is amazing to know that this will be their first presentation in Latin américa.

- Evolución (Chile)
Evolución was formed in 1982 and was considered one of the most important chilean jazz – progressive rock groups in the 80´s. after break-up in 1987, the banda returns in 2002, with partially new formation. From 2005 on, they relased two CDs (“La Era de Piscis” and “Umbrales”).

The opening session in Macaé will be with local prog band SÓPHIA

erik neuteboom wrote: Wow, Vaize, great line-up, I have added Spin XXI and Evolucion to Prog Archives so I am very curious to watch these bands. Perhaps I will ask Atkingani to remember his promise that I can have a room at his house when I travel to Brazil

Atkingani wrote: Rio Art-Rock Festival unfortunately lost one of its biggest attractions: HAWKWIND... Well, who knows in 2008?

Really bad news...

Another good news: inspired in the Rio ArtRock Festival, with yearly editions in Rio de Janeiro since 1996, São Paulo (the bigger Brazilian city) will release the 1st São Paulo ArtRock Festival, next November, 10th, at the traditional rock house Blackmore Rock Bar.



The idea is the same: joining representative progressive rock bands for a selected audience.

Three of the most important progressive rock bands active nowadays in Brazil will be present in this first edition of the festival:

- Violeta de Outono (São Paulo, SP, Brazil).

- Tarkus (São Paulo, SP, Brazil).

- Apocalypse (Caxias, RS, Brazil).

Violeta, also performing in the Rio ArtRock Festival, is presently promoting its just-released CD "Volume 7".

Both Tarkus and Apocalypse are prepairing their new albuns (respectivelly "A Chave" and "The Bridge of Light").
At the same time they promote their new live DVDs, both released by Rock Symphony.

Take a look at some pictures from Apocalypse band at the band´s keyboardist Eloy Fritsch Web Site.

Edited by Vaize - October 03 2007 at 04:08

erik neuteboom wrote:                 I own the excellent Tarkus and Apocalypse DVD's, Vaize so I can only say:                                                "what a mouthwatering line-up  !"   By the way, good news to read that Tarkus and Apocalypse are preparing new albums!

Ready for some self promotion? OK here I go...

The Secuencia Fibonacci (thats my band) Ep is finally being recorded. Within a mounth or maybe less it will be finished, anyone interested PM me and I shall give you access to our material ready for download.
At the moment the drummer is studieg some crap (engineer sound ...something) in Hollywood, and has made contact with the prog comunity and he has schown them some of our stuff and they are interested, if all goes well (very well) we might flight to USA in 2008 in order to play in LA and New York... let´s cross our fingers!!!

Here is CONGRESO: http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=3251 Thanks Ghost Rider and the guys