ProgPower USA is the premier U.S. festival for progressive and power metal. For 18 years they have been a paramount part in bringing some of the biggest and best names in the international progressive and power metal scenes to a country not particularly known for either. It takes place every September at the Center Stage Theater in Atlanta, Georgia and is known for the intimate feel between the bands and attendees.
As per tradition, right before the Friday night headliner is to take the stage, the crowd gathers in the main hall for a few words from the staff and the announcing of the next year’s festival line-up. The announcement comes with the yearly roster video by Art Director Wayne Joyner. Starting from the bottom of the bill on Friday, each band is revealed one by one, and then repeats for Saturday. What you end up with is the list below, the line-up for the main two days of the festival. You can watch the video down below, or by clicking here.
Friday, Sept. 7th:
- James Labrie (Canada)
- Redemption (USA) with new vocalist, Tom Englund
- Labyrinth (Italy) “Return to Heaven Denied” part I in its entirety
- Bloodbound (Sweden)
- Persefone (Andorra)
- MANIMAL (Sweden)
Saturday, Sept. 8th:
- Tarja Turunen (Finland)
- Alestorm (Multi-national)
- VUUR (The Netherlands)
- Soen (Sweden)
- Eclipse (Sweden) *US Exclusive
- Triosphere (Norway)
Days 1 and 2 were announced earlier in the week, and while only feature four bands perform each day (only 4, I know!) but the line-ups are no less impressive. Seeing Dream Evil, Voyager, and Angra on the bill had me sold, everything else was just a treat at that point.
Wednesday, Sept. 5th:
- Voyager (Australia)
- Nocturnal Rites (Sweden)
- Gloryhammer (multinational)
- Ross The Boss Band – Manowar set (USA
Thursday, Sept 6th:
- Angra – 25th Anniversary “fans pick the set list” Show (Brazil)
- Dream Evil official (Sweden)
- Kingcrow (Italy)
- Cellar Darling (Switzerland)
Tickets for Friday/Saturday go on sale on October 7, 2017 at 10am EST, while tickets for the opening two days will go on sale at some point in November.
With this announcement also comes a few mini announcements of varying importance:
- The James Labrie solo band will be performing their first show together since 2005.
- Angra will be playing a “fans pick the set list” show in celebration of their 25th anniversary. Hopefully Megadeth will allow Kiko out for a little bit for this. It wouldn’t be the same without him there.
- Ray Alder is no longer the vocalist for Redemption, Tom Englund of Evergray is taking over the position and they will be releasing a new album together “very soon.” It’s currently still in production, but they only teased a few clips of it during the video. Apparently it is not yet mixed or mastered.
- Italy’s Labyrinth will be playing their 1998 album Return to Heaven Denied in its entirety.
- Ross “Ross the Boss” Friedman, founding guitarist of Manowar will be playing a Manowar set.
Although I was not able to attend the festival this year, due to some financial issues, I was fortunate enough to be able go the past two years for the Friday/Saturday shows. Next year though…
