BUDAPEST: YESTERDAYS - FLAMBOROUGH HEAD & HARMONY IN DIVERSITY: The Verdict:
Our warmest thanks go to all those responsible for the planning and execution of the event, that means the members of Yesterdays and Flamborough Head and particularly Eszter, Istvan and Joseph, whose efforts in the months up to the gig, during the event and after it, were the very reason it worked so well. The sound, lighting and stage technicians, and all the staff on Ship A38 did us all proud. Heart-felt thanks go out to Attila and Alexa at the Star Hotel for putting up with us!
(We salute you! )
On Sunday we boarded the Ship A38 on the River Danube in Budapest, and took to the stage alongside Flamborough Head and Yesterdays. A mini-Progfest!
This was an amazing weekend: Everyone we met was friendly, helpful and supportive. There was plenty of hard work but just as much laughter, and certainly as much talent!. Oh yes! there was also plenty of food!. Hotel accomodation was excellent. Good facilities: Well stocked bar, speedy elevators, clean showers, and of course channel '0' on Hungarian TV! (Pete will explain that one!)
As for playing on the Ship A38, that was an experience to remember, the stage being perfectly large enough for any band, and the audience area built to accomodate up to 600 people. The back-stage artists bar is the old ships engine room (engine and control gear still there!)
The three bands each gave their unique brand of music an airing:
With a non-stop display of musical craftmanship, YESTERDAYS kicked off with their weaving dynamics and powerful (enchanting) stage presence. This, I believe is a band you need to SEE as well as HEAR. They played material from their newly released album; 'MOONLIT GARDEN' (available from their website, and due for global release soon)
FLAMBOROUGH HEAD were next up, with their awesome power and subtle blends of unforgettable melodies. This was prog played straight down the line. Their sound had that 'uplifting' quality which they produce so naturally. Check out their album: 'TALES OF IMPERFECTION'
If these two bands were a hard act to follow, then it was probably wise that HARMONY IN DIVERSITYgot up on stage to improvise!! Obviously I can't be very objective about how we played, (see the Yesterdays link below for something more objective) but we did manage to pull a few interesting ideas out of the muddle of our collective minds, ideas which we are currently sifting through for the next album. I must make the confession that in an improv session recently, we took a trip down memory lane, with a version of a track from the 1973 'Two Sides of Peter Banks' and that did creep out during the set!! I think we then drifted into the 'Pink Panther' theme....Mmmmm strange things do happen!
FINALLY
All who took part in the event have made it clear how much they enjoyed themselves. Nick, Peter and I were no exeption. Indeed, it was a pleasure and a privelage to get to play alongside Flamborough Head and Yesterdays; a festival we all enjoyed, a venue we'll certainly remember, and people we'll never forget!
[Dave, NIck & Pete]