Northern Prog Festival 2021
Since February 2020 the Background Magazine team has not been able to witness any concerts. Due to the pandemic, that has been going around since that time, concerts were not allowed to take place. Therefore the annual Northern Prog Festival could not take place in 2020. Now finally one year later another edition of the only progressive rock festival in the northern part of the Netherlands could take place again. The festival that started in 2013 had every edition 5 bands on their stage at De Uthof in Siegerswoude. But now for their eighth edition they decided that only 4 bands would be enough to satisfy the diehard progheads. For me personally that's the right number of bands, because when the fifth band entered the stage a lot of people already went home or got too tired or sleepy. For this year the following Dutch bands were booked: Mangrove, Hackberry and Perfect Storm. And of course the band who organize this event each year. Namely Leap Day. But the day before the festival Mangrove had to withdraw. Due to personal circumstances of one of the musicians in the band could not take the trip to Siegerswoude. So on very short notice a replacement had to be found. Thank God Hangover Paradise was willing to fill in for the band that had to cancel their performance. Hangover Paradise The band from Assen had the task of bringing the audience in the right mood. Well everybody who has witnessed one of their concerts knows what to expect. Even with a changed line up, compared to their first performance at the festival back in 2015 when they were for me personally the highlight, they can still entertain a crowd. Even without the excellent singer and performer Elias de Vries they showed to be a real professional unit. Because
Leap Day It's an understatement to say that lot has happened to the band Leap Day since the bands 10th anniversary album Timelapse (2018, see review). First the excellent bass player Peter Stel had been replaced by Harry Scholing and could already been seen on stage during the 2019 edition of the festival. A festival which was done without the bands lead singer Jos Harteveld and replaced by several other singers. It turned
Hackberry To be honest I had never heard about Hackberry before I went to the NPF. I had no time to check them out before actually seeing them. So for me personally and probably also for the largest part of the audience they could have been a dark horse. This 5 piece instrumental band from Groningen played a mix of progressive rock, stoner, metal, grunge. This musical cocktail they presented wasn't bad at all. But as with many bands, whose music stays instrumental,
Perfect Storm The headliners Perfect Storm are also located in the Groningen area; the northern part of the Netherlands. The band's debut album No Air (see review), released this year, made a big impression on our reviewer and got a well deserved five stars score. But how are they on a live stage? Well actually nobody knew it before their performance at the NPF. Because this concert was their first concert ever. And I must say they succeeded with flying colours. All the songs from their debut were played in the same order as on the album tracklist. And I
Like every year I can say that once again the organizers can look back at a well organized festival. Even with one act less those attended can be satisfied with what they got presented. The bands got a perfect sound made possible by the people behind the mixing desk. Those bands all came from the northern parts of the Netherlands, to do their thing on stage in a wonderful way. So once again there's nothing to complain, I guess. Furthermore the food and drinks were good and you could again feel the wonderful atmosphere between the many lovers of progressive rock. So all I can say is thanks to everybody involved making it again the best festival in the Netherlands! Henri Strik (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) |
Setlist Hangover Paradise: Who Do You Think You Are Coming Home Not Worried Diamonds Of Life Handle With Care Religious Minds Over The Hill Flowers In The Rain Life Is Too Short What Lies Beneath Circles Stepping Out |
Pictures
Hangover Paradise by Arthur Haggenburg Click on the picture to enlarge. |
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Line up Hangover Paradise: (left to right)Henk Zwerus: keyboards Henk Brugge: lead vocals Peter Zwerus: keyboards Cynthio Ooms: bass Daniel Brans: drums Richie Saimina: guitars |
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Setlist Leap Day: When Leaves Fall Like Icarus Treehouse Phaeton Clementine Sun Stood Still Changing Directions Walls |
Pictures
Leap Day by Arthur Haggenburg Click on the picture to enlarge. |
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Line up Leap Day: (left to right)Harry Scholing: bass guitar Eddie Mulder: lead guitar, backing vocals Derk Evert Waalkens: keyboards, backing vocals Hans Kuypers: lead vocals Koen Roozen: drums, percussion Gert van Engelenburg: keyboards, backing vocals |
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Setlist Hackberry: Lunares Ophidian Strike Solitary March Manticore Fore Shadow Desert Orchid |
Pictures
Hackberry by Arthur Haggenburg Click on the picture to enlarge. |
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Line up Hackberry: (left to right)Marijn de Boer: guitar Chris Bechtum: drums Tim Hidshes: keyboards Francesco Bonardi: guitar Simon Venema: bass |
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Setlist Perfect Storm: Strength The Search Sun For Life Hope No Air Mind's Eye How It ends Encore: Strength |
Pictures
Perfect Storm by Arthur Haggenburg Click on the picture to enlarge. |
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Line up Perfect Storm: (left to right)Niels Voskuil: drums Ard Offers: keyboards, vocals Hiske Oosterwijk: vocals Adel Saflou: vocals Gert-Jan Schurer: guitar David Klompmakers: bass |
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