ProgStock 2025 Starts October 9
My very hip musically-inclined friends seem to think Progressive Rock died in the ‘80s. Or at least was on life-support. As prog-rock stalwarts King Crimson, Yes, Jethro Tull, Genesis and Rush seemed to fade with the advent of punk, metal, grunge and rap, that adventurous searching for ambitious time signatures, complex arrangements, instrumental virtuosity and borrowings from the classical, jazz, worldbeat and folk worlds seemed quaint at best.
But for those who like to dance to compositions in 7/8 time, with no radio play whatsoever, the American Northeast’s only international Progressive Rock Festival, ProgStock, happens October 9, 10, 11 and 12 at the Williams Center in Rutherford, Bergen County, an artist-run arts center, complete with cinema and comedy club.
Tom Palmieri kept Progstock going since its inception, even through the pandemic.
The four days will be filled with concerts, including the first-ever solo performance in the U.S. of Steve Hogarth of Marillion, a Rush Tribute, jam sessions (bring your guitar), Q&A sessions with historians, prog pundits and musicians (including Derek Shulman of Gentle Giant and Michael Sadler of Saga) and even pumpkin carving classes.
For further information, visit https://www.progstock.com/2025/tickets/