Over a year ago, Mike Portnoy told us that he’d love to re-launch the Progressive Nation Tour when the timing was right. Well not only did he finally found the time, but also found a way to re-launch the prog-tastic tour as a cruise festival.
Teaming up with InsideOut Music, former Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian, and Sixthman, Progressive Nation At Sea will hit the sea from February 18 – 22, 2014 on the luxurious Norwegian Pearl, heading from Miami to Great Stirrup Cay and Freeport, Bahamas. The four days will feature over 40 shows on multiple stages, along with activities, Q&A’s, panels and workshops. Naturally, Portnoy will be onboard playing with Transatlantic, PORTNOY SHEEHAN MACALPINE SHERINIAN, Spock’s Beard and probably a handful of other bands for some intense jamming. Also slated for the cruise is King’s X, Pain Of Salvation, Tony Harnell & Bumblefoot, and many others.
Portnoy had the following to say about the cruise edition of Progressive Nation At Sea:
“In 2008 & 2009, I created a touring package called Progressive Nation and with Dream Theater headlining, we did three full tours (two in North America and one in Europe) that showcased a variety of bands that embraced the spirit and musicality of progressive music. Well after a 5 year hiatus, I have decided to resurrect Progressive Nation and this time we are taking it to the seas! But rather than a 4 band bill like previous Progressive Nation tours, we have expanded the bill to OVER A DOZEN of today’s greatest progressive bands, musicians and artists! (and there may be one or two more still to be confirmed) Myself and my former DT bandmate Derek Sherinian have teamed up with Sixthman (who have done incredibly successful cruises with Kid Rock, Lynyrd Skynyrd and the annual Kiss Cruise to name a few) as well as our friends at InsideOut Music and look forward to a very successful inaugural launch of PROGRESSIVE NATION AT SEA, Feb 18th thru 22nd 2014. We are so excited to take part in this historic maiden voyage and look forward to sharing this one of a kind event with fans from all around the world!”
The cruise starts off at $700 per person plus tax and fees, while more info and a pre-sale sing up can be found at at http://www.progressivenationatsea.com/. A full rundown of bands confirmed for the cruise thus far can be seen below.
TRANSATLANTIC
PORTNOY SHEEHAN MACALPINE SHERINIAN
JON ANDERSON
KING’S X
SPOCK’S BEARD
THE FLOWER KINGS
PAIN OF SALVATION
RIVERSIDE
TONY HARNELL & BUMBLEFOOT
BIGELF
BEARDFISH
THE DEAR HUNTER
JOLLY AND NEXT TO NONE
