Nearfest cancelled

For a different take on the matter, see here   

Edited by toroddfuglesteg - March 28 2011 at 08:02

toroddfuglesteg wrote: For a different take on the matter, see here

In wasnt aware that Raff had her own blog, but I think she definitely hit the nail on the head there. Admitedly though, the NEARfest line-up was very hit-or-miss this year from my point of view.

Long time lurker here. Hi.

When will people stop using the economy as an excuse when their decisions don't work out? 2009 was a massive success despite the economy being in the toilet.

This lineup, plain and simple, is too new/weird to expect the typical NEARFest goer to spend $600 for a weekend.

Not that I think that it's a bad lineup.. I bought my tickets this year and I am massively disappointed.. but the reason why past editions are so successful is because you get to see the new bands stand tall among the legends of the 70's. Come for PFM, stay for Cabezas de Cera, so to speak. This year there are no PFM's so it becomes a hard sell, regardless of the economy.

I can't remember the lineup exactly, but for me there were two (possibly three) bands that I liked and the rest either I don't or ddidn't know. Based on some of the comments here, I can't imagine I'm alone on this. So honestly, even if you differ in your opinion of the lineup, who would spend the amount of money they are asking (plus travel and hotel) to see a majority of bands they didn't want (or care) too?

toroddfuglesteg wrote:  Excellent point. If times are lean, you have to cut your clothes accordingly. I see that in other type of entertainment businesses over here in Europe too where we often get special deals which makes it affordable and/or the businesses scales back to just offer the core event.    I have no idea why NEARfest was cancelled so I am speaking in general terms and as a reply to Kotro's post.

Edited by moshkito - March 29 2011 at 20:58

I wish we could do something like Nearfest in Chicago!   We have prog groups blow through all the time (Yes just last weekend), and we have a ton of local prog talent, particularly of the jazz-rock fusion brand.  

micky wrote: CharAznable wrote: Long time lurker here. Hi. When will people stop using the economy as an excuse when their decisions don't work out? 2009 was a massive success despite the economy being in the toilet. This lineup, plain and simple, is too new/weird to expect the typical NEARFest goer to spend $600 for a weekend. exactly...   a point I've made several times  It is a very vivid example of the distinctions between fans of prog fan.. and fans of progressive music. It's like a very wise man said...  'Nearfest became too progressive for it's fans..  a sad irony but not unexpected considering the nature of prog internet forums'.  People just wanted a nostaglia fest. words of wisdom here... Jacob said: I'm just going to chime in on the original post, dunno what's been discussed over all these pages. I whole-heartedly applaud every prog festival organizer who has ever walked the earth for their amazing contribution to the entire prog revival. Without people like Rob and Chad and Greg and Steve and George and the rest, a lot of us in prog bands would simply be nowhere. Progfest and NEARfest in particular have been essential to the growth of Scandinavian prog in the 90's and noughties. It just seems that the time has come now for prog to find a new way. The festivals have become, as was mentioned, nostalgia get-togethers. They have been artificial life-lines for stagnant acts, rather than fertile grounds for new, exciting acts. And those organizers who have tried to feature some new blood have been punished by a rather backwards-looking audience. As with NEARfest this year. I don't think blaming either the audience, the organizers or the bands has any virtue. What I think, is that the prog umbrella for too long has tried to shelter two very different things under its shade: On the one hand, the nostalgia scene, which features both the old acts that are still around, like Yes and whatever Italian band you care to mention, and "old-new" bands like Flower Kings and Transatlantic - bands that, though newish, cater mostly to very conservative audiences. On the other hand, the new progressive scene, which could include anything from The Mars Volta to Gösta Berlings Saga, and which really isn't a scene at all, especially considering that many of the bands themselves have no awareness of being part of a "prog scene". These two strands really are extremely different. There's plenty of people with a love for both (including, to a certain extent, myself). But to throw the typical fans of both scenes (the former, ageing, follicle-challenged geezers - bless'em all!, the latter young, dynamic listeners brought up to endless eclecticism and irreverence to genres - bless them too!), might just be too much of a stretch. Maybe it's time for a divorce. Let the geezers have their nostalgia-fests, and let the "new prog" bands get out on the regular rock circuit and compete with any other rock genres out there rather than put them in the geriatric ward of "prog" where the smell of old age will make them unpalatable to both the rock media and the major labels. No disrespect to either!!! :-) And as an a propos: Prog labels that sign new, fresh and exciting bands should be careful how they market and present the bands. Selling them in the traditional way ("washes of mellotrons, recall Eloy in their heyday, rave reception at Bolivia Art Rock Fest (BARF)") will, quite simply, sell them short. It's a new world out there.

richardh wrote:   very interesting read. The High Voltage festival although not designated a 'prog festival' as such does have a prog stage and is about 'nostalgia acts'. They recognise that this is the only way to pull in the punters. However their first year despite having prog legends ELP still fell a long way short of selling out (something like 18000 tickets were sold for Sunday when the capacity would have allowed near 30,000- at least no queue for the toilets!). This year is crucial and will be interesting to see whether the festival can build on last year. Dream Theater is now the headline act. Will that attract more people given that they are a more modern contemporary prog band? Will have to wait and see.

very interesting indeed. I met him through Raff's facebook page (shes the one more involved in the behinds the scene action than I am) and he had some interesting views on the state of things prog, then saw his post over on PE's.  Thought it was an interesting and essential view (from a working member of a current act today) and should be shared.

I'll be curious myself to see how High Voltage goes this year.  After hearing some private thoughts given to Raff by people close to the situation there, I have very deep fears for the future of Nearfest and live festivals here in the states.  I could care less for the old timers, they had their time in the sun  and obviously can get people to show up for their shows.  I think Jacob was right, it might well be time for a split, for the new bands to think about carving their own paths. AWAY from associating themselves with prog rock. Prog rock to too many, those who have the money to invest in it, it is a very narrow and backward view of prog.  Today's generation I believe cares a great deal less about tags and labels than many who call themselves prog fans.  UM didn't care if they were playing a prog fest or not..   like I often like to say... the 14 year old girls next to me at the HoL concert last year would have gone WFT are you talking aboutt if I had asked them what they thought about prog rock?  In it's own funny way it harkens back to what prog so great in the 70's (and the whole 70's muscial scene)  it was the days before the industry slapped tags and labels on everything where you might go to a ELP concert one night, and the  Stevie Wonder the next.  Perhaps with the download era and the manifest decrease in the power and reach of the recording industry.. that we have reached some point where tags and labels just don't matter one iota to today's engaged listeners. 


Edited by micky - March 29 2011 at 15:22

It's very sad but if you are going to market yourself as a Prog Rock Festival then you really need to have a line up that is recognisably Prog. It's all very well blaming Prog fans for being stuck in their ways and maybe stuck in the 70s but that is what it is and if they did not buy tickets in sufficient numbers then the festival organisers messed up. It's as simple as that. You can't expect Prog fans to shell out big bucks for something they don't recognise as Prog.

To me this whole clusterf**k is symptomatic of the ridiculous fallacy that Prog Rock and Rock that is progressive are the same. Here's proof that they aren't.
So everyone loses.



Edited by Tony R - March 29 2011 at 17:42

The point is - it's all a matter of taste. My college age son's two favorite albums are Yes - Close to the Edge and Sigur Rós ( ). One of the characteristics of Prog is that is an aquired taste especially the stuff on the fringe. At one time even Yes was on the fringe of the then accepted contemporary music and only had a small but dedicated cult following but ultimately became a commerical giant. Some of the "new" stuff is also an aquired taste. The more I listen to the newer varieties of prog whether a revival of a classic symphonic theme or the newest variety of ambient driven post rock, the more I tend to like it. The overriding characteristic is relative complexity to the music and highly talented musicians. If that is present, then I am willing to listen to explore new ground. It's all about the music - right?