Your ticket to outer space awaits

As the days tick down to zero (Seaprog Day Zero, that is), excitement is mounting here at Central Committee Headquarters. Our spartan accommodations are plastered with Nik Turner posters to get us in the mood for some epic space travel on Sunday night. And for the first time in the history of this prog festival, an actual Mellotron will take the stage. That’s a pretty significant milestone, and we’re thinking we could probably get away with just setting it up on the stage and having everyone file by reverently. But no, it’s going to get played!

And MoeTar! Have you watched their videos yet? Amazing stuff, and we’ll get to see it live right before our eyes.

Getting really psyched for Debora Petrina too. Make sure you watch her new video for a taste of what’s to come.

Don’t for a moment think it’s all about the headliners from out of town. From the beginning, one of our goals in staging this festival is to show Seattle what an incredible amount of creative music is being made right here in the area. General Mojo’s, Johnny Unicorn, Panther Attack, Pink Octopus… they all present music in a wide variety of styles, often in venues that don’t do them justice. We aim to change that. You can see great music without having to deal with drunken guys looking for hookups.

Seaprog 2015 takes a cosmic turn with Nik Turner

Nik Turner promotional photo
Nik Turner promotional photo

We can now announce the Sunday headliner for Seaprog 2015. One of the founding fathers of progressive space rock, Nik Turner (sax, flute, vocals) will psychedelicize the Seaprog stage with a specially assembled cast of Seattle creative music luminaries, including electric violinist Alicia DeJoie (Moraine), legendary Seattle musician/producer Jack Endino (Earthworm, Skin Yard), synthesist Ffej (Tempered Steel), drummer Jack Gold-Molina (Spectral Waves), guitarist Dennis Rea (Moraine), Steve Fisk on Mellotron, and others TBA. This cosmic collective will perform tracks from throughout Nik’s career, including classics by Hawkwind, Space Ritual, Inner City Unit, Sphynx, and Space Fusion Odyssey. Nik Turner & Flame Tree will headline the Sunday 8/9 roster.

Artist profile: Upwell

Upwell promotional photo
Upwell promotional photo

Upwell: To move or flow upward; to rise from an inner source.

Upwell is a Seattle band operating in the nether realms where heavy rock, raw emotion, and artistic ambition meet.

“Upwell is one of the most terrifyingly great bands I have ever known out of Seattle. Their musicianship and song-writing is monstrous…they’re heavy like Soundgarden or Zeppelin with killer female vocals, but with their own unique style.”
~ Jack Endino, Producer

Personnel:

  • Michelle Pavcovich — Vocals, guitar
  • Stevenflo Rosenstengel — Guitar, background vocals
  • Kirk Jamieson — Drums, background vocals
  • Jack Endino — Bass

Links to artist websites:

Links were good as of when the artist performed. Some may no longer work.

Performances:

Artist profile: Plus or Minus

 

Plus or Minus promotional photo
Plus or Minus promotional photo

Plus or Minus is an up-and-coming duo from Seattle, Washington. Built on a foundation primarily of acoustic guitar, they weave many elements into their songwriting, pulling from a huge array of influences from indie folk to progressive metal. Their ambitious collaboration of intricate guitar and vocal work produces a sound entirely unique. With music that takes on elaborate shapes of its own, members Josh Brugman and Tony Dunlap only push it further: “Our work ethic is extremely progressive, and I think our music reflects that.”

Personnel:

  • Josh Brugman — Guitar
  • Tony Dunlap — Guitar

Links to artist websites:

Links were good as of when the artist performed. Some may no longer work.

Performances:

Artist profile: Pink Octopus

Pink Octopus promotional photo
Pink Octopus promotional photo

Pink Octopus is the Seattle-based outlet for the compositions of guitarist Jonathan Huffman. His wide-ranging musical vision includes elements from several streams of rock along with a sprinkling of jazz. There are complex arrangements featuring odd meters, killer grooves with screaming solos, and enough ideas for three or for ordinary bands. Ordinary they are not.

Personnel:

  • Jonathan Louis Huffman — Guitar
  • Ian McCarley — Bass
  • Luke Wyman — Bass
  • Michael Porenta — Saxophone

Links to artist websites:

Links were good as of when the artist performed. Some may no longer work.

Performances: