Date: 22 JAN 2001

 

BAJA PROG 2001 Newsletter No. 6

 

Hello Prog Fans:

 

The fifth edition of the annual Progressive Rock Festival Baja Prog will be held from February 28 thru March 3 of the year 2001 in Mexicali, Mexico.

 

SAD NEWS AND GOOD NEWS:

JOHN JOWITT AND FRIENDS have cancelled their appearance. HAPPY THE MAN will be playing in their place, promising Friday night to be a great evening.

 

Other bands will be performing at the Hotel Araiza Inn Convention Hall as early afternoon shows. Newly confirmed bands are OMNI from Spain, ARIA from Mexico, as well as SUBTERRA and EXSIMIO from Chile, KROMLECH from Mexico, and ECLAT from France.

 

PROGRAM INFORMATION:

 

Wednesday, February 28, 2001
Pre-concert show @ 2PM, Araiza Inn Convention Hall (2nd floor)
Two performing bands - us$5

-ARIA (Mexico)

Aria is a young band from Mexicali, Mexico that explores successfully the genre of metal progressive rock.

 

-SUBTERRA (Chile) www.subterra.org/
Subterra from Chile obtains their sound from the english neo-progressive of the 80's, when they started playing tracks from Marillion. Now we will see them playing their own songs, which have been maturing since then. Good instrumentation and a very expressive voice.

 

Then at the Teatro del Estado: @ 7:00pm
Three performing bands - us$15:

 

-AZIGZA (U.S.A.)www.lionharp.com/azigza
Azigza is the new discovery from San Francisco, California. Progressive Rock, a female voice as beautiful as intense and& shades of middle eastern music!!! A completely original sound, with instruments that include percussions, violin, zither, and a formidable costume and stage presence.

 

-CAST (Mexico)www.1russ.com/cast/cast.htm
After a long life in the shadows, they presented themselves to the world in the 90. s only to become the maximum figure in mexican progressive rock. Their music? Two excellent voices, incredible keyboards and a powerful rhythmic base. Their successful European tours made them become known even more.

 

-ANKH (Poland) www.ankh.art.pl/
Ankh is a band from Poland that has released 3 Cds in the heavy progressive rock category, with a certain alternative-rock influence that gives them a very up-to-date touch. The progressive sound is given by an excellent violin player who now also plays cello. Ankh was the revelation in the Art Rock Rio Festival that is annually organized in Brazil.

 

Thursday, March 1, 2001
Pre-concert show @ 2PM, Araiza Inn Convention Hall (2nd floor)

Two performing bands - us$5

-KROMLECH (Mexico)www.sistec.com.mx/kromlech/
Kromlech is a mexican band that got rave reviews at Baja Prog 2000. It created such impact that a lot of comments regarding the quality of their music and about deserving to play in a better forum, so here they are, presenting once again their conceptual work contained in their debut album. Instrumental conceptual work with obscure, melodic and progressive passages.

 

-ECLAT (France)mageos.ifrance.com/FrogProg/eclat_FR.html
Eclat is a french progressive band with an excellent guitarist as a leader that gives a touch of fusion (mainly in the instrumental passages), in a frame surrounded by inventive keyboards and a very good rhythmic base. Their first album was one of the first released by Musea.

 

Then at the Teatro del Estado: @ 7:00pm
Three performing bands - us$15

 

-LANDMARQ (England) www.dprp.vuurwerk.nl/bands/landmarq/
Landmark is a neoprogressive english band, that with the addition of singer Tracy Hitchins (Strangers on a Train) reaches today their maximum stage. Strong Rock, accessible and more than anything, progressive!!!

 

-DISCUS (Indonesia) www.matonline.com/discus/
Discus is an event by itself. This band from Indonesia makes consistently varied music. Just to hear their album takes you from surprise to surprise, visiting traditional jazz, jazz-fusion, rock, progressive rock, middle-eastern music and perhaps even Broadway!!! Arrangements with an incomparable versatility and geniality with first-class interpretation.

 

-SYLVAN (Germany)www.sylvan.de
Sylvan is a young german band that could be classified in neoprogressive rock but with a very up-to-date sound, perhaps falling suddenly in the alternative sound. A very good singer, who can sing strong and peaceful pieces with a very special style, a very intense guitar, imaginative keyboards and great composition, can summarize their style.

 

Friday, March 2, 2001
Pre-concert show @ 2PM, Araiza Inn Convention Hall (2nd floor)

Two performing bands - us$5

-OMNI (Spain)

Omni is a talented spanish band that was formed in the late 80. s within the most progressive style of rock, creating instrumental music with long passages of great strength, finesse and fine melodies. Drums, keyboards, guitars and wind instruments, what else can you ask for?

 

-EXSIMIO (Chile)www.exsimio.cl/
Exsimio is defined as the "Missing Link of chilean rock" and makes very original music. Inspired like they say themselves, in King Crimson and with a great influence in Primus. Bass incredibly played, 2 guitars very well coordinated and a very strong and fast drummer.

 

Then at the Teatro del Estado @ 7:00pm
Three performing bands - us$15:

 

-HAPPY THE MAN (U.S.A.) www.happytheman.com

Happy the Man is the most appreciated band for the people who know north-american progressive rock from the 70. s, when the band released several albums, especially instrumental, in which they showed to the world their sensibility and mastery. Their music from that era sometimes was close to the Canterbury english style, but with a very personal touch. Now in 2000 they are back together again almost 20 years of being apart.

 

-FINISTERRE (Italy) www.finisterreproject.com/
Finisterre has gained our attention with their influence of classical music, strong rock and that always present . feeling. of italian bands. For their presentation at Baja Prog it is being planned to have screens with images for a great surprise.

 

-SOLARIS (Hungary) www.e-prog.net/bands/solaris.htm
Solaris became known when in 1986 they released to the market their fantastic album "The Martian Chronicles", in which they mixed electronic and classical elements, rock and hungarian folklore. Instrumental music where each member shows us that they have top level, and the virtuoso flute playing by Kollar Atila reaches a very special effect of warmth.

 

Saturday, March 3, 2001

Teatro del Estado@ 3:00pm
Three performing bands - us$15:

 

-PRIAM (France) mageos.ifrance.com/FrogProg/progsud_priam_GB.html
Rock, experimentation, Jazz Fusion, ethereal keyboards and new age? All this in one band? Without a doubt Priam is one of the most adventurous groups of recent years, with a very virtuoso guitarist and a rythmic section very well structured and versatile, involved softly in keyboards that invite you to wonder.

 

-IONA (England) www.iona.uk.com/
Iona is a band from England that mixes successfully the music of irish and celtic influence with real Rock!!!, without limiting their horizons. Sublime pieces interpreted by the beautiful voice of Joanna, long ethereal passages and at the moment that percussions and guitar appear with force, Iona shows us that it is truly a unique band in the world.

 

-LE ORME (Italy) www.leorme.alma.it/eng/english.htm
Le Orme is one of the main figures of Italian Progressive Rock since the late sixties. Today, after three decades, the band is in very good shape just like it was in their best earlier times. Aldo Tagliapietra and Di Rossi are now joined by two virtuoso keyboardists that execute pieces with great complexity and dynamics. The italian bands have always had a very special "feeling" in their melodies and interpretation, and Le Orme is one of the best of all times!!!

 

Closing party after last band (location to be determined).

 

TICKETS INFORMATION:

Golden Circle tickets are still available until February 10! The ticket price for each night is us$15 or us$60 for the four nights at the Teatro del Estado.
The "Golden Circle" of spectators will be seated among the first three rows at the "Teatro del Estado".

 

If you want to buy Golden Circle tickets, you can call 602.955.6993 with a Visa or MasterCard, or send a Check or Money Order to:

CAST Productions
4533 N 22nd Street, Unit 207
Phoenix, AZ 85016
U.S.A.

 

Tickets for both the Araiza Inn Convention Hall (2nd floor) and the Teatro del Estado will also be sold at the door.

 

HOTEL INFORMATION:

All participating bands will stay at the Araiza Inn Mexicali Hotel. Please make your reservations early, since attendance for the event is increasing every year.

 

Hotel Araiza Inn Mexicali
Bulevar Benito Juarez 2220
Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico
Telephone (52)(6) 564-1100
From Mexico toll free at 01-800-026-5444
From USA toll free at 1-800-927-2402

The Baja Prog rate is us$65 for a room with two double beds. Make sure you ask for this rate when making the reservation.

 

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM THE USA:

Coming from San Diego and Southern California. Depending where you are in San Diego, take either I-15 south, I-805 south or I-15 south to I-8 east (El Centro). In about 1 hour and 45 minutes you will arrive in El Centro, California. Continue on I-8 east until you see Hwy 111. Take Hwy 111 south to Calexico. In about 15 minutes you will arrive at Calexico. Continue driving south on Imperial Avenue and after a few blocks you will be crossing the international border into Mexicali.

Coming from Phoenix, Tucson, etc. Take I-8 west as if you were going to San Diego. After about an hour from Yuma you will see Hwy 111. Take Hwy 111 south to Calexico. In about 15 minutes you will arrive at Calexico. Continue driving south on Imperial Avenue and after a few blocks you will be crossing the international border into Mexicali.

 

DRIVING DIRECTIONS FROM THE US/MEXICAN BORDER:

Stay on the left lane before crossing the border, this way you will be able to stay on the left lane once in Mexicali. After crossing the border, continue on the left lane and you will be in Avenida Madero. Continue heading east for three miles. There will be a lot of 4-way stop signs along the way. Make a right when you see Sub-Agencia Corona into Calzada Justo Sierra. Continue heading south for about a mile and a half and stay on the middle lane. The road will split into two when you see a big monument and you will stay on the left road, which is Bulevar Benito Juarez. The Hotel Araiza Inn will very close from there on the right side.

 

TOURIST INFORMATION:

The following web page gives basic tourist information about Mexicali.
http://cgi.aros.net/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/sanbachs/mexico2.cgi/City=MXL

WEB PAGE INFORMATION:

 

Some additional information can be found at:

http://www.1russ.com

 

The festival is almost here. Only the final details are needed.

 

Unfortunately our e-mailing list might contain addresses of people who are not interested in receiving our flyers. If you want to be removed from our list, please send an e-mail with "remove me" or . unsubscribe. as the subject.

 

Progressively yours,
Members of CAST and the Consolidated Collaboration Group

 

lanphomus@home.com
cast@sahuaro.mxl.cetys.mx