Malta’s only live Prog event, Prog The Islands makes its comeback on Friday, December 11 after a two-year hiatus. The last edition had been held just days before popular Paceville venue V-Gen had closed its doors for good back in December 2012. This year’s edition of Prog the Islands, the fourth to date, will take place at Remedy and, as in previous editions, features three local bands.
The line-up this year kicks off with a special acoustic set from Colourblind, which will also feature the band’s new bassist Robert Galea. The band is currently writing and recording new material which should see the light of day early next year.
Also on the bill is upcoming act Viper Soup Complex, whose will actually be giving its debit live performance. The band includes ex–Sepia vocalist Annemarie and bassist Michael together with Owen Grech on guitars, David Ciantar on keyboards and Melchior Busuttil on drums. Their music is an engaging blend of symphonic Prog with an early 70s tinge, jazz fusion and the technical Prog made famous during the late 90s by bands such as Dream Theater.
The third act on the bill, The Counterbalance Project will front a line-up that is more of a musicians’ collective than a ‘normal’ band. Its nucleus features David Ciantar on keyboards, Aaron Dimech and Kersten Graham on guitars and Conrad Dimech on bass, with a number of guest drummers and vocalists joining the band onstage for each song. There will be a total of five different drummers, namely Steve Scerri, Melchior Busuttil, Mark Andrew Azzopardi, Ryan Abela and Jean-Luc Camilleri, as well as six confirmed vocalists, including Brendan Jackson (Forty Days of Rain), Danielle Ciantar, Ben Mifsud Joslin, Rachel Grech (Blind Saviour), Paul Sky (Colourblind) and Leo Stivala (Forsaken). The Counterbalance Project will also be launching its debut EP Inception on the night.
Prog the Islands IV (The Return) will be held at Remedy in Paceville on Friday, December 11. Doors open at 9pm and entrance (at the door is €7. For more information, click here.