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Concerts: English Progressive Rock Band arK Announce New 2010 Tour Dates

Posted on Monday, July 05 @ 02:30:00 UTC by nightowl

arK, the band led by John Jowitt, bass guitarist best known for his work with UK progressive bands IQ, Arena and Frost*, will be joining legendary US progressive rockers Presto Ballet (Kurdt Vanderhoof) for a series of UK dates in September 2010 in the run up to the release of their album, Wild Untamed Imaginings.

Joining Jowitt in the 2010 incarnation of arK are original members Tony Short on vocals and flute, Pete Wheatley on lead guitar, Steve Harris on guitar synth, and new member Tim Churchman, formerly of Darwin?s Radio, on drums.



US progressive rockers Presto Ballet were founded by guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof (Metal Church). Their sound is described as highly reminiscent of 70's prog rock ? not surprising, given the band was founded largely to pay homage to the classic progressive bands of that era such as Genesis, Yes and Kansas.

arK will be playing with Presto Ballet on the following dates:

Weds, 1st September: The Brickmakers, Norwich
Thurs, 2nd September: The 12 Bar, Swindon
Fri, 3rd September: The Luminaire, Kilburn High Rd, London
Sat, 4th September: The Wesley Centre, Maltby, Rotherham
Sun, 5th September - The Robin 2, Bilston, West Midlands

The shows are being promoted by the Classic Rock Society and tickets can be purchased from their website - www.classicrocksociety.co.uk. The Robin gig on 5th September will also be the ?launch party? for their arK?s forthcoming album.

Says Jowitt "We?re excited to be playing alongside legendary US proggers Presto Ballet on our first tour with arK. We?re all looking forward to introducing arK to friends old & new.

A hall mark of the arK shows of old was their energy combined with a sense of theatre and humour. We intend to carry on very much where we left off - it?s going to be a whole load of fun for us and for the fans!?

Talking about the recording of the forthcoming arK album, Jowitt says "I'm very pleased at the way the album has progressed. We've got 11 tracks that work really well together, including several never previously recorded, and we?ve given a new shine to some previous favourites. The songs sound like they always should have sounded - the guitar and synth playing from Pete and Steve in particular has blown me away. "

arK are due to release of their forthcoming album Wild Untamed Imaginings on the ProgRock Records label on September 5th. The album will shortly be available for pre-order at the label?s website www.progrockrecords.com/artists/view.php?id=140.

An album of completely new material will follow early in 2011.

arK will be also be supporting the British Neo-Progressive band Frost* (Jem Godfrey; John Mitchell Declan Burke, Nathan King, and introducing Craig Blundell) on the following dates in December 2010:

Fri 3rd December: o2 Academy, Islington
Sat 4th December: Academy 3, Manchester
Sun 5th December: The Robin2, Bilston

arK on Facebook
arK fansite
Follow John Jowitt and Ark on Twitter (@JJowitt) as the album is completed and preparations are made for gigs in late 2010.

Presto Ballet @ MySpace

[Source: Minerva PRC]

Posted in Band News (tours, comings/goings, etc)