So I was in Malmö yesterday (sitting on a long train ride home now) for the Progressive Circus 2018 festival. Had a fantastic time seeing 5 acts that I had never seen before.... VUUR, iamthemorning, Promise and the Monster, Anneke van Giersbergen and Merit Hemmingsson. A link to a FB album with pics and video will follow...
Merit Hemmingsson started the evening with her folk infused music on just Hammond and drums. Have not listened to her before but bought two signed CDs from her in the paus.
Next up Anneke van Giersbergen solo, just her and an acoustic guitar. Some of her own material, Valley of the Queens (Ayren) and lots of covers, Wish you were here, Broken Wings, Wasted Years and the highlight for me Kate Bush Cloudbusting. No The Gentle Storm even though I shouted for it... but she promised it woul come later.
Wonderful voice and wonderful entertainer... soo charming
Promise and the Monster is a solo project but on the stage were three young women and one man. Billie Lindahl (whose project it is) stood upfront with an acoustic guitar and sang beautifully as did the keyboardist who also played flute and cymbal. Then we have violinist and last the man on drums and electric guitar at the same time, so mostly drumming by feet. He also played the guitar with a bow.... very atmospheric and mezmerizing music.
iamthemorning was in Sweden for the first time and they had brought a band, guitar, bass and drums in addition to Glebs keyboards. Marjana with bare feet and a white dress dancing across the stage singing beautifully was very mezmerizing and also told some funny stories in between the songs.
Got good eye contact with her at times and espescially at "Your house is on fire cause you were annoying and I threw the match in"... hope she didn't find me annoying ;-)
Highlight was maybe 5/4 which is such a great live song and where Marjana had the audience in total control for the handclapping parts.
Managed to get her to sign my Lighthouse CD in the paus but unfortunately Gleb was not around.
The end of the evening took it up a few notces... VUUR were amazing to see. All of them were really into it and had great contact with the audience. Anneke van Giersbergen totally ruled and really impressed with her voice. Lot's of songs from the album but also songs from Annekes earlier projects The Gathering and The Gentle Storm. When she introduced The Storm she pointed at me as I had shoted for The Gentle Storm during her solo concert.
Unfortunately it was a seated theater but there was lots of room infront of the first chairs so me and a friend sat on the floor just infront of the lead vocalist for all the evening rocking out, espescially during VUUR. At one point Anneke came up and gave us a high five.
Towards the end of the concert she got everyone to stand and rock out and I thought "In this moment we are free".
Fantastic night.... pics and videos below
https://m.facebook.com/martin.sandberg.334/albums/1581680211968041/?ref=bookmarks