The Moody Blues’ John Lodge ‘Singer in a Rock and Roll Band’ – Dates Announced for December 2025!

‘Singer in a Rock and Roll Band’ Tour – Featuring Moody Blues Songs from the Classic Albums is heading to California, Arizona, Texas and Oklahoma!

John Lodge, legendary bass player, songwriter and vocalist of The Moody Blues, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, has announced more dates for his electrifying new show titled ‘Singer in a Rock and Roll Band’! Dates are already on sale for the North East and Midwest, and now dates have been announced for California, Arizona, Texas and Oklahoma. This will be the first time John has taken his show to many of these venues!

Following the phenomenal success of his ‘Days of Future Passed’ show over the last couple of years, John wanted to now go back to basics and bring a true Moody Blues show to the fans. What are the songs that he loved performing in the Moody Blues, and how could he recreate the sound and the feel of one of these special concerts. Thanks to the incredible musicianship of his band, and his experience of performing these songs over 50 years, John will perform these classic songs true to the original but with an extra dash of magic, evoking joy and nostalgia in equal measure.

It may no longer be possible to go to a ‘Moody Blues’ show, but as Gary Spiller said in a recent review “Check the dictionary entry for ‘timeless’ and evenings like this are right there!”

When John wrote the hit single ‘Singer’ in 1972 it was because people were looking to him to change the world, and his reply was he’s just a singer in a rock and roll band! Despite time marching on, that is still who is he today, and John’s shows will take you on a Moody Blues journey through the hits and deep cuts of this magical catalogue, together with stories and memories of this time.

This incredible new show feature songs from ‘the core seven albums’ including ‘Days of Future Passed’, Seventh Sojourn, and more, plus ‘Octave’ and the triple platinum selling album ‘Long Distance Voyager’.  It will bring together some of the captivating moments of his ‘Days of Future Passed’ show, John’s hits with the Moodies, and, of course, tributes to all his bandmates. This truly will be a show of Moodies Magic and ‘a trip worth taking and remembering’! (Tony Violanti)

Together with Jon Davison of YES and his 10,000 Light Years Band, John will lovingly recreate ‘I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band)’, ‘Nights in White Satin’, ‘Ride my See-Saw’, ‘Gemini Dream’, ‘Tuesday Afternoon’, ‘The Voice’, ‘Steppin’ in Slide Zone’, ‘Isn’t Life Strange’ and much more. Electrifying video and lights will complete this incredible evening as the years roll back…

The December dates kick off on December 4^th at Cerritos PAC, and end in Austin on December 14.  This will be John’s first solo shows in Austin and Oklahoma City, and he’s delighted to be able to continue to bring these shows to new audiences!

Limited VIP merch packages will also be available, go to: https://www.johnlodge.com/tour.

Photo by Dana Grubb

Following a stroke at the end of 2023, John has gone from strength to strength, driven by his love for this music, and his deeply held desire to ‘keep the Moody Blues music alive’. The critically acclaimed shows are testament to his passion and commitment, and as John says, his hope is that people leave with a little bit of joy around them.

“I’m delighted that we are announcing these dates for December - we’ve been having a blast putting the new show together, and I am so looking forward to the July tour starting next month, and being able to continue it into December. As many of you know California has always had a special place in my heart, and we love performing at Danny Zelisko’s venues in Arizona, plus new venues in Austin and Oklahoma City.

I am a ‘singer in a rock and roll band’, and it continues to fill me with joy to perform for my fans and share this music with them… music that is the soundtrack to my life, and to many others too…”

Check out the tour video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_32O8687sw

This incredible new show will also be in support of John’s new EP ‘Love Conquers All’ out now. Signed copies are also available including limited edition vinyl.

For USA (including the limited edition 180g violet vinyl, handsigned by John): https://shop.johnlodge.com

For UK (including the limited edition 180g blue vinyl with a special handsigned insert): https://burningshed.com/store/john-lodge_store

Check out the video for ‘Whispering Angels’ here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XErh5-eeoIU

‘If you love The Moody Blues music, then you really need to checkout John live.  He and the band put on a great show!’

John Lodge is bass guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the iconic Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 2018 inductees, The Moody Blues. Songwriter of such mega Moody Blues hits from “Ride My See-Saw,” to “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock and Roll Band),” “Isn’t Life Strange” and many more.  Lodge has been performing and recording with The Moody Blues for more than five decades, selling in excess of 70 million albums, as well as releasing his three solo albums ‘Natural Avenue’,’10,000 Light Years Ago’ and ‘B Yond’, plus his new EP ‘Love Conquers All’.  Lodge has been voted one of the “10 most influential bass players on the planet,” and has been the recipient of many awards, including ASCAP (American Society of Composers and Publishers), an Ivor Novello Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from Prog Magazine, to name just a few.

USA Dates

Tickets for most of the new shows go on sale on Friday June 27th at 10am, with Celebrity Theatre and Rialto Theatre on sale date TBC.

JUST ANNOUNCED - DECEMBER 2025 Dates
Dec 4 Cerritos PAC, Cerritos, CA,
Dec 6 Uptown Theatre, Napa, CA
Dec 7 Magnolia PAC, San Diego, CA
Dec 9 Celebrity Theater, Phoenix, AZ
Dec 11 Rialto Theatre, Tucson, AZ
Dec 13 Tower Theatre, Oklahoma City, OK
Dec 14 Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX

JULY / AUGUST 2025 DATES – ON SALE NOW!
July 19 The Vogel, Red Bank, NJ
July 20 Newton Theatre, Newton, NJ
July 23 Scottish Rite Auditorium, Collingswood, NJ
July 24 Wind Creek Casino, Bethlehem, PA
July 26 Lynn Auditorium, Lynn, MA
July 27 Infinity Hall, Hartford, CT
July 29 Flying Monkey, Plymouth, NH
July 30 JPT Film & Event Center, Newport, RI
Aug 1 MCL Pavilion, Newport, KY
Aug 2 Agora, Cleveland, OH
Aug 6 Arcada Theatre, St. Charles, IL
Aug 7 Des Plaines Theater, Des Plaines, IL

All dates at www.johnlodge.com/tour

For further information:
https://www.johnlodge.com/
https://www.facebook.com/johnlodgemusic/
https://twitter.com/johnlodgemusic
https://www.instagram.com/johnlodgemusic/
https://www.youtube.com/c/johnlodgemusic

Press inquiries: Keith James, Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Iona’s Dave Bainbridge To Release 5th Solo Album “On the Edge (of what could be)” On July 18

Dave Bainbridge’s 5th solo album ‘On the Edge (of what could be)’ is perhaps his most ambitious yet. Bringing together all the elements that have characterised his music since he co-founded the band Iona, ‘On the Edge’ brings 83 minutes of new atmospheric, spiritual and powerful music to the listener that defies genre (a bold claim perhaps, but how else do you describe music that truly merges folk, rock, progressive, jazz and modern classical elements with vocals in both Scottish and Irish Gaelic as well as English?

‘On the Edge (of what could be)’ features a stellar cast of musicians including world renowned drum master Simon Phillips (Jeff Beck, Gary Moore, Toto, The Who, Mike Oldfield, Protocol, Hiromi and many more), Uilleann pipes and whistle maestro Troy Donockley (solo artist, Nightwish, Iona, Auri, The Enid, Midge Ure, Maddy Prior etc), Sally Minnear (Lord of the Dance, Pendragon, Celestial Fire etc), Iain Hornal (solo artist, Jeff Lynne’s ELO, 10CC etc), Randy McStine (solo artist, Steven Wilson, Porcupine Tree), Ebony Buckle (solo artist, Solstice), Jon Poole (Cardiacs, The Wildhearts, Lifesigns), David Fitzgerald (Iona co-founder), Frank van Essen (Iona, Martin Garrix, Within Temptation, Auri, Barbara Dickson etc), Rachel Walker (renowned singer of Scottish Gaelic folk music) and more.

Exploring themes such as the thin veil between this earthly life and the heavenly, mysterious stories of ancient Celtic saints, the wonder and glory of the natural world, Dave cleverly interweaves these with present day concerns such as climate change and deep societal divisions. However instead of pointing fingers, ‘On the Edge’ encapsulates a deep sense of the sacred and of hope. The hope of what could be in a world of turmoil and uncertainty. Possibly more now than at any point in history, the world needs the artistic community to bring us together and to show us, through great art, just how beautiful and precious this world is, and how much better the way of unity and of love and respect is.  

With the combination of this cast of uniquely talented musicians and Dave’s trademark, soaring guitar lines, expressive keyboards and evocative compositions, here we have a glimpse of what could be, in a world that is truly on the edge.

Watch the official album promo: https://youtu.be/JMiFXkID9go?si=M876WSN4PpKiZLJ5

Track list:

CD1

1.For Evermore
2.On the Slopes of Sliabh Mis
3.Colour of Time
4.That they may be One
5.On the Edge (of what could be)
6.The Whispering of the Landscape
7.Hill of the Angels

CD2

1.Farther Up and Farther In
2.Reilig Òdhrain  
3.Beyond the Plains of Earth and Time
4.Fall Away
5.When All will be Bright

On the Edge (of what could be) is available on OPEN SKY RECORDS / GONZO MULTIMEDIA as a 2CD double album and soon as a double vinyl album with a triple gatefold sleeve and digital download and stream. www.davebainbridgemusic.com

To purchase: https://www.musicglue.com/iona/products/dave-bainbridge-on-the-edge-of-what-could-be

For more information:
www.davebainbridgemusic.com
www.patreon.com/davebainbridge
https://www.facebook.com/dave.bainbridge1
https://www.facebook.com/DaveBainbridgeMusic/
https://www.youtube.com/@davebainbridge902

Press inquiries: Keith James, Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

Instrumental Ambient Progressive Rock Review: Bioscope (Steve Rothery and Thorsten Quaeschning) - Gento

Release Date:  August 22, 2025

Label: earMUSIC

Website

Bioscope comes from the Greek bios (life) and skopeein (to look). Before cinema, it meant "a view or survey of life." This is the new project of Steve Rothery (Marillion) and Thorsten Quaeschning (Tangerine Dream) titled Gento.

If you are familiar with the artists, you may be speculating about what the song will sound like before you hear it. It is instrumental, ambient progressive music from start to finish, albeit with a few vocals. It certainly conforms to the instrumental heading.

 

This may be quite an auditory journey if you are passionate about music without words. In the same instance, you may be open to exploring something entirely different, which is also good.

 

Rothery, being a keyboard player, made the choice well. Quaeschning performs synthesizers, vocals, guitar, and drums on the recording. The guitar parts give it the progressive rock elements, so it's not too far out on the ambient side.

 

Every track segues into the next, making it sound like a vast, ever-changing composition with five proper tracks. Two contain three parts, one contains two parts, and the whole comprises 10 parts.

 

One way to briefly explain what you hear is atmospheric ambient layers of keys and synths with additional key guitar parts and very few vocals. It is primarily and purposefully instrumental to focus on the dual talents of these two gentlemen.

 

It is not even close to being Marillion, but it can mirror what Tangerine Dream sounds like in the more ambient textured layers. Layers is the descriptive word here; many parts meshed into each other. It is an incredible challenge to listen to what is going on. And I say that in the most positive and supportive way for this amazing musical project.

 

You will hear spacey parts and changing tempos, and in some instances, I could imagine the music being used in a film or documentary. The epic sound, tempo, and rhythm shifts make this a listen you will be glued to until it's over.

 

The most challenging aspect of this type of music is keeping a listener interested and energized with anticipation. Remember, this is not background music; these are bona fide compositions of musical excellence.

 

While Bioscope has not broken new ground with Gento, it is a giant leap for the artist to step out of the familiarity of their main bandmates and comfort zones.

 

Steve Rothery and Thorsten Quaeschning have created a marvelous musical journey with Gento. Fans of their respective bands will enjoy this extensive collection of compositions. This is as progressive as it gets for such a project outside the realm where they usually reside.

Keith “MuziMan” Hannaleck- Progressive Music Reviews Reviews Founder

June 19, 2025

Tracks:

1. Vanishing Point (Pt. 1, 2 & 3)

2. Gentō

3. Kinetoscope (Pt. 1 & 2)

4. Bioscope (Pt. 1, 2 & 3)

5. Kaleidoscope

Electric Double Violin, Vocal Master L. SHANKAR Releases New Album “Full Moon”

Released in September 2024, L. Shankar’s FULL MOON presents a masterful convergence of India’s rich musical traditions, with an effortless blending of elements from the southern Carnatic, northern Hindustani and world music systems. Known for his groundbreaking work with his vocals and the 10-string double violin, Shankar delivers deeply soulful melodies in an atmosphere that evokes timelessness. His intricate, celestial compositions are marked by extraordinary improvisations and a seamless interplay between his voice, violin, to create a soundscape that is both intimate and expansive. This album is more than just a collection of tracks; it’s an essential experience for both collectors and new listeners alike, that goes beyond mere listening. Full Moon stands as a testament to Shankar’s unparalleled ability to transform traditional forms into a sublime musical experience, inviting the listener to lose themselves in its ethereal beauty.

The central piece on the Full Moon album is the track Aberi Fantasy. It's structured like a raga-based improvisation, unfolding in multiple parts — each one reflecting a phase of the lunar cycle. Just as the moon moves through its transitions — from full moon to new moon over fifteen days, gradually disappearing from view — the music moves through a sequence of moods and ideas, seamlessly woven together. Shankar envisioned the entire album as a kind of full moon — a complete circle. Each section of Aberi Fantasy represents a part of that circle. There are tabla solos and instrumental passages, each occupying its own place, as if arranged around the moon’s circumference. The piece, and the album as a whole, is a journey through light and shadow, fullness and absence — just like the moon itself.

Says Shankar, “We only have one life to live, and in times like these, peace, love, and unity are more important than ever. Inner peace allows us to share love and knowledge with others. I truly believe that we are stronger together than we are alone — a team can achieve far more than any one person. If each of us spreads positivity and healing in our own way, that energy multiplies and travels quickly. We can make the world a better place to live in — and music is one of the most powerful ways to do that. Music transcends language; you don’t need to understand the words to feel its impact. Feeling is universal, no matter where you come from.”

“My music focuses on emotions — much like the phases of the moon. The moon moves through darkness before it shines as a full moon. In the same way, we can’t truly appreciate the light without experiencing the dark. Life is like that — full of shifting emotions that connect us all.”

“That’s the story behind Full Moon and the message I’ve woven into this album.”

Track list:
1. Darlene’s Wish
2. Dancing Beauty
3. Aberi Fantasy Pt. 1
4. Aberi Fantasy Pt. 2
5. Aberi Fantasy Pt. 3
6. Around The Corner Pt. 1
7. Around The Corner Pt. 2
8. Darlene’s Wish (Radio Edit)

"L.Shankar, an acclaimed virtuoso violinist, singer, composer and producer who has sold over ten million albums, is a musical pioneer. He embraces with equal ease three idioms of music: Indian classical, world music and pop/rock" - Hinduism Today

Simon Dove, from Bazaar Magazine said Shankar's "phenomenal capacity for improvisation remains unsurpassed."

"His solo recordings avoid entirely the excesses of fusion jazz. Instead, they pursue a plangent serenity that, when it reaches the heights ..., suggests a transcendence unheard in jazz ” - The Washington Post

"Grandmaster vocalist and violinist, L. Shankar...considered a living legend, has awed and delighted audiences all over the world live and with his albums" - Celebrity Zones

"Shankar’s music is rich & melodic..." SPIN Magazine

"Two Shankars, one Ravi Shankar and one L.Shankar are probably the best known Indian names in world music. One familiarised the Hindustani sitar, the other took Carnatic raga music through his double violin and voice to every known idiom from classical, to rock and roll, to jazz to EDM creating music that defies definition." — Times of India, 2019

"His solo albums have always drawn not only enormous interest from fans and critics alike but also showcase the collaborative spirit that is integral to Shankar’s art." - All About Jazz

"Two hundred years from now L. Shankar may be idolized as the new Muthuswami Dikshitar." - Hinduism Today

Music critic, Kevin O' Hare from The Republican wrote that "Shankar not only plays with breathtaking speed, he's also mastered the art of dynamics, letting the instrument breathe and taking advantage of the violin's full tonal qualities."

"Music critic Abigail Neufell called him among the greatest violinists in the world." - India Today

"In Shankar we encounter extraordinary virtuosity, brilliance of tone, and a fiery radiance of spirit." - Raves the Record Review

“Recorded across studios in Los Angeles, Malaysia, and India, Full Moon is entirely composed, arranged, and produced by Shankar. Each track reveals his mastery of both form and feeling, underscoring his lifelong commitment to expanding the expressive capacity of Indian classical music.” - Angel Romero, World Music Central

Music critic Jerry Ozipko described L. Shankar as "having improvised some of the most daring, exuberant, and technically proficient music imaginable" on the violin.

L. Shankar (aka Shenkar) is widely celebrated as a musical genius and legend by his peers, who hold him in the highest esteem. A child prodigy and virtuoso, he is regarded as one of the pioneers of East-West music, enthralling audiences and critics alike all over the world. As an international touring artist with a career spanning decades, Shankar has sold over 100 million albums and achieved international acclaim through his award-winning solo projects and collaborations with legendary artists including Frank Zappa, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Michael Jackson, Madonna and numerous esteemed musicians worldwide. Since 1980, Shankar has been using his invention - a 10-string stereophonic double violin—known as the LSD (L. Shankar Double violin)—which he designed to cover the full range of the orchestral string family. His innovative and complex pallavis, featuring unique rhythmic cycles, that he popularized over decades through his critically acclaimed solo albums on ECM Records, have now been adopted by others.

In addition to his classical work, Shankar has released globally acclaimed pop, rock, and EDM albums, and worked on numerous soundtracks for award-winning films, documentaries, and TV series—including The Last Temptation of Christ, The Passion of the Christ, and the hit TV series Heroes. He has released 28 solo albums, the latest being Full Moon and Over the Stars, both released in 2024.

Shankar currently resides in Los Angeles, Malaysia and Goa, India in between tours.

Shankar’s next album is titled "ANSWERS" — a progressive rock album featuring many incredible star-studded musicians including Tony Levin, Josh Lopez, Dave Palmer, Zack Baird, Dileep, Stephen Perkins, Scott Seiver, Juliett Rose, and Jeff Gross — most of whom also played on Shankar’s album "CHEPLEERI DREAM", released in 2021. It’s a beautiful and powerful album, full of infectious beats, rich grooves, and lyrics, brought to life by amazing players. It’s set to release in two and a half months on Big Dream Records via The Orchard / Sony.

Following that, Shankar has another album titled "Ocean of Truth" — more like a soundtrack, in the spirit of the work he did for The Passion of the Christ with Martin Scorsese and Peter Gabriel. It’s a spacey, dreamy, cinematic album, where Shankar used various raga systems to evoke different emotions. This album will be released on XDOT 25 / The Orchard / Sony, after ANSWERS.

L. Shankar also has an extensive tour schedule — he will be touring India from November to February, followed by tours in the United States, Europe, Australia. Says Shankar, “In between tours, I travel with a mobile studio, so I’m able to record wherever I am — I’m constantly on the move, creating and recording.”

Listen to Full Moon:
YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mwhFZjZZunpA5w5EygWFd_3Hbfeu4MOsE&si=E5TWPr900PVdeavR
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5QRsh5KcZ4agk23MVAwckY
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/album/id/1766794625
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/album/639749491

For more information:
Website: www.lshankar.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LShenkar/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshenkar/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5X75aYCKG5hS5yONW4IPRr
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheShenkar/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shenkar-l-shankar-8a867968/

Press inquiries: Keith James, Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com

MADFISH PROUDLY PRESENTS CARAVAN – THE SHOWS OF OURS…LIVE (22nd August)

A 10LP ARCHIVAL BOXSET OF FIRST-TIME TO VINYL CARAVAN PERFORMANCES

INCLUDES 4 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED CONCERT RECORDINGS PLUS 60-PAGE COLLECTOR’S BOOK WITH PHOTOGRAPHS, EPHEMERA, AND FIRST-HAND BAND REFLECTIONS

Madfish are proud to present the new 10LP boxset from progressive rock pioneers Caravan. Titled The Shows Of Ours…Live, the new set includes 10LP’s of iconic Caravan performances from the band’s live peak with 4 previously unreleased concerts – Keele University 1976, Bobino 1980, Diss 1998 and Wavendon 2001. Completing the set is a beautiful 60-page collector’s book with previously unseen photographs and contributions from the band.

WATCH THE TRAILER FOR THE SHOWS OF OURS…LIVE

A rare and fascinating window into Caravan’s onstage journey, The Shows of Ours…Live traces the band’s evolution across four decades of musical exploration, quiet majesty and cult superstardom.

PRE-ORDER CARAVAN THE SHOWS OF OURS…LIVE (22^nd August)

LP BREAKDOWN:
1 - Keele University 1976
2/3 - Bobino, Paris 1980
4/5 - Old Buckenham High School 1990
6/7/8 - Park Hotel, Diss 1998
9/10 - Stables Theatre, Wavendon 2001

Among the many gems is a standout performance from Keele University, now available for fans to enjoy for the very first time. Unearthed from the personal tapes of keyboardist Jan Schelhaas, Keele University 1976 captures the band in elegant transition - fluid, playful, and at ease in their own skin.

There’s also the long-rumoured 1980 concert at Bobino, Paris - finally rescued from the world of unofficial bootlegs and presented here in fully remastered form. With crisp fidelity and room to breathe, it reveals a line-up locked in and stretching out, riding the sweet spot between structure and spontaneity.

The journey continues into later years with a 1990 recording from Old Buckenham High School - a performance once tucked away on a boxset-only CD release, now restored and reintroduced on vinyl for the first time in all its charm.

Caravan by Barry Plumber

From swirling organ solos to playful lyrical turns, every track hums with the unmistakable spirit of a scene that was always more than just music - it was a movement. Whether you're a longtime devotee or a curious newcomer, this is your invitation to step into the velvet-draped, tea-scented haze of a bygone era.

Compiled with the full blessing and input of the band and mastered by Pete Reynolds of Reynolds Mastering, The Shows of Ours… Live is part time capsule, part revelation - a portrait of Caravan as a live band and a tribute to their subtle but lasting mark on progressive music history.

The Shows Of Ours…Live will be released on Madfish on 22^nd August.

Pre-order now here.

Follow Caravan:

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCaravan

https://twitter.com/officialcaravan

https://www.youtube.com/user/officialcaravan

https://www.instagram.com/caravancanterburyband/

For hi-res images see: https://www.madfishmusic.com/media/caravan/

www.madfishmusic.com

Press inquiries: Keith James, Glass Onyon PR, PH: 828-350-8158 (USA), glassonyonpr@gmail.com