This weekend has been the best that I could have wished for. There are so many people to thank, You treated us like royalty in Holland. The food and hospitality that we received was second to none. We had a great Gig, missed our dear friend David Lloyd but will be reunited soon. I have made a lot of new friends as well as seeing some older ones this weekend, Very tired but on a high from what we have achieved and done. Great gig, Great bands, but above all Great people who looked after us. See you soon. Neil Hayman.

Neil Hayman, drummer of British progband The Gift is right. Two bands that performed at their best in that beautiful little venue 't Blok in Nieuwerkerk aan de IJssel in the Netherlands. Artists and audience are really taken care of by the Progfrog guys and that makes it always fantastic. Especially for the bands because they have nothing to worry about. And that shows on stage.
 

The Far Meadow

Marguerita Alexandrou

The Far Meadow, started their gig with Dinosaurs from their last and brilliant album Given The Impossible (2016, see review).

Keith Buckman (back) & Denis Warren (front)

The band, Marguerita Alexandrou (lead vocals), Paul Bringloe (drums), Keith Buckman (bass), Eliot Minn (keyboards and backing vocals) and Denis Warren (electric guitar) took the crowd by storm. This band is musically stunning. Paul Bringloe and Keith Buckman lay down a foundation on which Eliot Min an Denis Warren can excel with beautiful solo's. Marguarita Alexandrou has a very characteristic voice that suit the music perfectly. Great to see how many of the crowd new the songs from their recent album. Especially Himalya Flashmob was received with loud cheering. Al the other songs The Far Meadow played, A Gentle Warrior; Gods, And Snakes, Simpletons And Oafs (commonly known as Mud); Travelogue; Prove It Then were very well received. The band finished with The Seamless Shirt. A long piece that is based on the old Scarborough Fair. This was an absolute highlight with the band on the top of their game. A big applause was well deserved.
 

The Gift

Mike Morton

After the break The Gift took the stage. Their second time in 't Blok. This band improved so much by changes in their line up. They missed guitarist David Lloyd, his mother died two days before the gig. Guitarist Leroy James, who re-joined the band, had to play not only his own parts but also all the solo's of David. He did a great job! (and has wonderful shoes). As said, lot has changed in The Gift. Was their first album a project of singer Mike Morton and Leroy James and the second album a project of Mike and David Lloyd, now for their third album, the magnificent Why The Sea Is Salt (2016, see review) a real band was recording. And

Mike Morton & Leroy James (r)

this band is live at least as good as on the album. Keyboard virtuoso Gabriele Baldocci is sensational, the bass lines of Stefan Dickers are melodic and so supportive to the music and new drummer Neil Hayman is keeping the band together in a very big way! Mike Morton is a schooled actor and dominates the stage. The frontman you want to see. His vocals are better than ever and the lyrics he writes are deep and moving. Goosebumps were there.
The band played a great selection of their work with song as Quickening Pulse, Sweeper Of Dreams, The Willows, Too Many Hands, At Sea, The Carpeted Corridors, The Tallest Tree, Tuesday's Child , Awake And Dreaming (wow) and Walk Into The Water. Not enough for the crowd so they finished with Sweeper Of Dreams.

As said, both bands were fantastic. The audience great and the Progfrog guys as always so supportive and the hospitality second to none. Also compliments for the sound in 't Blok. It's getting better and better.

Arne van Os van den Abeelen (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen)