New England Art (Progressive) Rock Society - New England's Ear on Progressive (Prog) Rock Music
What is NewEARS? A not-for-profit organization of progressive music lovers. The primary goal of NewEARS is to create a community of music enthusiasts dedicated to sharing and promoting progressive rock in the New England area.

Please see the About page for more information about our goals and history, as well as contact information.

NewEARS Album Of The Month

Big Big Train - The Likes Of Us

"In 'The Likes Of Us', Big Big Train have crafted a musical experience that's as raw as it is refined. A testament to resilience and creative evolution, this album demands your attention and will reward your listening investment."

"Alberto's magnificent voice gently guides us into the album. The BBT Brass trumpets the arrival of the opener, "The Light Left In The Day," which smoothly acquaints us with all the individual musical elements of BBT. Settling into this safe space, we're then thrust into a maelstrom of an instrumental that twists, turns, and leaves you dizzy! With trebly bass picking and a Moog melody, we're firmly in the world of prog! [] BBT is back-and they mean business!" GB-TPR

"Listening to the album from start to finish I can confirm that the new line-up has hit the ground running and delivered an exceptional album. It's unmistakeably Big Big Train, so it cannot be described as ground-breaking, but of its kind it is a gloriously executed collection of songs. It really is a masterclass in song-writing, musicianship, arranging, production and engineering." PH-TPA



Essential Track: "'Beneath the Masts' is the album's centrepiece, a 17-minute track originally written by Gregory Spawton and melded into the final epic version by the band during the recording session in Italy. It's a lyrical tale inspired by landmark TV masts in his home town of Sutton Coldfield. The first part of the track is in the traditional BBT mould, followed by a lengthy jazz-inspired instrumental section led by Nick D'Virgilio, but with contributions from all the band. This section then bursts into a melodic reprise of the song and a soaring guitar solo to close out. It's a worthy addition to the catalogue of BBT epic songs, an interesting and vivid lyric accompanied by some complementary and contrasting mood music, executed with all the finesse we have come to expect." PH-TPA
 


Read the full reviews on The Prog Report and The Progressive Aspect.

Listen and watch the videos on the band's YouTube Channel.

Buy the Album from The Band Wagon USA, InsideOut Music or wherever great Prog music is sold.
 
NewEARS Art Rock Series

There are no NewEARS show announcements at this time

Click on the following link for a complete list of bands that have played for the NewEARS Art Rock Series
 

New England Events

03/29/24Echoes Of Floyd - New England's Pink Floyd Tribute Soundcheck Studios - Pembroke, MA
03/30/24Minstrels In The Gallery - A Tribute to Classic Jethro Tull Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center - Greenfield, MA
04/02/24Primus - Sessanta w/ Puscifer & A Perfect Circle Boch Center - Boston, MA
04/03/24Primus - Sessanta w/ Puscifer & A Perfect Circle Boch Center - Boston, MA
04/05/24Joe Satriani & Steve Vai - Satch Vai Us Tour Orpheum Theatre - Boston, MA
04/05/24Primus - Sessanta w/ Puscifer & A Perfect Circle Foxwoods Casino - Mashantucket, CT
04/07/24Joe Satriani & Steve Vai - Satch Vai Us Tour Palace Theater - Waterbury, CT
04/12/24Snarky Puppy Jorgensen Center For The Performing Arts at UCONN - Storrs, CT
04/13/24Snarky Puppy Groton Hill Music Center - Groton, MA
04/20/24Lotus Land - American Rush Tribute The Cabot - Beverly, MA
04/24/24Umphrey's McGee - An Evening With Higher Ground - Burlington, VT
04/25/24Umphrey's McGee - An Evening With Higher Ground - Burlington, VT
04/26/24Mary Fahl - Full Band Performance TCAN - Natick, MA
04/26/24Umphrey's McGee - UMBowl House of Blues - Boston, MA
04/27/24Queensryche - The Origins Tour - playing the EP & The Warning in their entirety Palladium - Worcester, MA
04/27/24Umphrey's McGee - UMBowl House of Blues - Boston, MA
04/27/24Kamelot - Awaken The World Tour 2024 Big Night Live - Boston, MA
04/27/24Echoes Of Floyd - New England's Pink Floyd Tribute The Town House - Petrborough, NH




Featured Show:
 
4/5 - Orpheum, Boston MA
4/7 - Palace, Waterbury CT



SATCH-VAI 2024 TOUR

For the first time ever, after more than 50 years of friendship, it's the Satch/Vai 2024 Tour!

"The Satch/Vai Tour is happening! I'm so looking forward to sharing the stage with Steve again. Every time we play together it takes me back to when we were teenagers, eating and breathing music every second of the day, pushing, challenging and helping each other to be the best we could be. I guess we've never stopped!" - Joe

"Touring with Joe is always a pleasure and an honor. He is my favorite guitarist to jam with, and now we have another opportunity to take it to the stage. I feel as though we are both at the top of our game and that the show will be a powerful celebration of the coolest instrument in the world, the electric guitar!" - Steve



Latest New England Prog News

Coming to Boston September 23 - TD Garden





Coming to Boston November 24 - Somerville Theatre





Coming to New England in June: 6/22 - Concord, NH ; 6/25 - Boston, MA ; 6/27 - Ridgefield, CT