 | | Christina Booth of Magenta |
Progressive Rock fans from all over the UK – plus a few from Europe – enjoyed a whole day of fantastic music at Guildhall on Saturday 17th September, when the inaugural Summers End Festival came to Gloucester. | "Keyboard player Dean Baker... has more than a passing resemblance to Aussie cricketer Shane Warne" | | Stephen Lambe |
The festival kicked off at midday with local band Also Eden – featuring festival organiser Huw Lloyd Jones on vocals – and they got a rousing reception from a decent-sized audience. The band has a sound that fans of bands like early Marillion and IQ will recognise, with plenty of soaring guitar and Huws’ likeable, self-effacing presence holding things together. Next up were Tr3nity, from Hampshire. Their set featured several very long pieces – a couple of which overstayed their welcome slightly – but with their strong sense of melody and musicianship, not to mention the excellent voice of former musical theatre performer Chris Campbell, this was a very enjoyable set.
 | | Bruce Soord of The Pineapple Thief |
Headliners of the afternoon session were Galahad, 20-year veterans of the Southern prog scene. The notorious travelling prog fan Frode – who had come from as far as Norway for the festival – described them a “punk prog”, and he had a point. Singer Stu Nicholson and guitarist Roy Keyworth both sport shocks of short, spiky hair, while keyboard player Dean Baker – whose electronics are crucial to Galahad’s sound – has more than a passing resemblance to Aussie cricketer Shane Warne. Nonetheless, this was an intense, aggressive performance, which deservedly got a rapturous reception from their fans. After a dinner break (and a visit to the merchandise stands), we all returned for the evening session, which began in low-key fashion with excellent singer-songwriter Steve Thorne, performing to a backing track and his own acoustic guitar.
 | | Steve Thorne |
Next band The Pineapple Thief almost didn’t play – after a family emergency drummer Keith Harrison only just arrived in time – but nonetheless the band delivered a searing performance, very much in the style of Radiohead and Elbow, with guitarist and singer Bruce Soord putting every ounce of effort into each note. Very much on the fringes of Progressive Rock in terms of style, the band certainly split opinion, but I loved every hypnotic second. Headliners Magenta, from Cardiff, provided a complete contrast. Fronted by the beautifully voiced Christina Booth, they played their melodic, traditional-style prog with great fun and animation. Keyboardist Rob Reed and guitarist Chris Fry performed with their usual extravagance, while a special mention should go to new member, bassist Daniel Fry, for an immaculate performance on his first appearance with the band.
 | | Chris Campbell of Tr3nity |
Praise should go to Huw Lloyd-Jones for organising the event at relatively short notice, and also for the Guildhall for being bold enough to put it on. With each band playing for over an hour (and Magenta playing for two), this was a very different – and very friendly - event for people who like their music to be accessible, yet with some depth and plenty of strong musicianship. With the progressive rock revival in full swing, lets hope The Summers End festival continues at the Guildhall in 2006. This article is user-generated content (i.e. external contribution) expressing a personal opinion, not the views of BBC Gloucestershire. | 
