Sea of Tranquility and VisionMerch.com are thrilled to announce Sea of Tranquility Fest 2022 live at the Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie, NY on October 1, 2022.
Sea of Tranquility is a web portal for information, news, and reviews related to the worlds of progressive rock, various forms of metal, and fusion music with a large following on social media and YouTube. The Sea Of Tranquility team organized an online event, Sea Of Tranquility Fall Fest, in 2020 that was very well received and had some great bands involved (Uriah Heep, Doro Pesch, Mark Kelly from Marillion, Andy Powell from Wishbone Ash and many more).
Inspired by the success of the online version, Sea of Tranquility founder Pete Pardo decided to take the next step and hold a live in person version of the event. “SoT Fall Fest 2022 will bring together many of the elements that make our YouTube Channel & Webzine a daily destination for so many people-progressive rock, classic rock, hard rock, heavy metal, and insightful conversation. Join us for a jam-packed day of music & talk! Break away from your television, computer, tablet, and phone as the Sea of Tranquility crew break away from Zoom for a day full of music & discussion at The Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie, NY. You are all welcome!” – Peter Pardo, SeaOfTranquility.org
Sea of Tranquility Fest 2022 will feature live version of popular Sea of Tranquility panels in the afternoon and a Q&A with Chris Caffery of Savatage and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
The evening portion will feature performance from Nektar, Vanilla Fudge (featuring original members Mark Stein, Vince Martell, Carmine Appice and Pete Bremy), Pat Travers Band, Epic Tantrum and Sonus Unbra. There will also be a live Q&A with Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash between sets.
"We're happy to be headlining the Sea Of Tranquility Festival on Saturday, October 1,” says Nektar’s Derek "Mo" Moore. “Hope you can join us for what's sure to be a great evening! We are looking forward to seeing and meeting you there!"
Lastly, respected author and SOT recurring guest Martin Popoff is also honored to be a part of the festival and looking forward to participating.
“It’s an honor for me to be part of the Sea of Tranquility Fall Fest. Pete Pardo, through his encyclopedic music knowledge and easy manner delivering it many times a week for years, has built up an impressive like-minded community of fully 76,000 subscribers, many of who have
been clamoring for something like this certainly for at least the nearly two years since it’s become a rumor. It’s going to be a huge pleasure meeting in person so many of them along with many of the fellow speakers Pete calls up to share in the Sea of Tranquility experience day after day, across all his many shows, each celebrating some aspect of the rock ‘n’ roll experience.”
“Discussion, debate and possibly a few drinks will be the order of the day, as Pete has planned live on-stage versions of many of the shows we see on the channel, followed by generous Q&As. I’m looking forward to the vendors as well, and then once into the evening, the esteemed slate of classic rock, heavy metal and progressive rock bands Pete has gotten to be part of entertainment across two simultaneously humming stages. All told, this is the ultimate celebration of the extended Sea of Tranquility family under one roof, analyzing and celebrating music. And once all our voices are hoarse, we get to settling in for a dance card of legendary rock bands—many of whom have been discussed on the channel repeatedly through the years—all doing their thing in the spirit of communion Pete has effortlessly fostered through his remarkable channel.”
Tickets:
$60 General Admission (general admission tickets get entrance to evening and afternoon sessions)
$75 Reserved Seats in the Chance theater (Reserved Tickets get entrance to evening and afternoon sessions)
Tickets are available at https://www.ticketweb.com/event/sea-of-tranquility-nektar-vanilla-the-chance-tickets/12342675?pl=chance
More about Nektar:
For more than 50 years, Nektar has taken legions of fans on audio-visual journeys to far reaches of the universe and the depths of the ocean with their immersive blend of sight and sound. These prog-rock pioneers have been champing at the bit to get back on the road and are excited to announce they will tour America’s Northeast and Midwest this autumn, with many more dates scheduled through Spring 2022. The “Vinyl Sides Live” Tour marks Nektar’s eagerly awaited return to the road, spotlighting some of the best-loved “album sides” from their evergreen catalog, as well as 2020’s acclaimed release, “The Other Side,” plus new material.
Formed in Germany in 1969 by British expats, Nektar soaked up the musical freedom they found in their new home, favoring extended compositions and concept albums over the constraints of pop. They were among the progenitors of the progressive rock movement of the 1970s as well as the jam-band scene that arose in the late 1990s. Their sound traveled well to the States, where they enjoyed Top 40 success with “A Tab in the Ocean” (1972) and “Remember the Future” (1973). Nearly 20 albums and a half-century later, the band’s artistic and personal charisma has earned them masses of devoted fans, who have flocked to festivals such as NearFest and ProgStock, and venues like the Wildey Theatre (where they perform multi-night sold-out shows) to indulge their passion for the Nektar experience.
Currently, Nektar features three of the original members – Derek ‘Mo’ Moore (bass guitar, vocals), Ron Howden (drums, percussion, vocals) and Mick Brockett (visual environment). Ryche Chlanda (guitar, vocals) and Randy Dembo (bass guitar, bass pedals, 12-string guitar, vocals) are alums of previous Nektar incarnations. World-class multi-instrumentalist Kendall Scott completes the lineup on keyboards; his performance credits include Project/Object and Ryche Chlanda’s Flying Dreams. They will be joined onstage by Maryann Castello on backing vocals.
More about Vanilla Fudge:
Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band known predominantly for their slow extended heavy rock arrangements of contemporary hit songs, most notably "You Keep Me Hangin' On". The original line–up Featured Mark Stein, Tim Bogert , Vince Martell and Carmine Appice.
The Fudge is currently touring with three of the four original members: Stein, Martell, and Appice with Pete Bremy taking over for Tim Bogert when he retired in 2009.
Vanilla Fudge has been cited as "one of the few American links between psychedelia and what soon became heavy metal." Vanilla Fudge also is known to have influenced other major bands such as The Nice, Deep Purple, Yes, Styx, Led Zeppelin, and Uriah Heep.
More about Pat Travers Band:
Patrick Henry Travers is a Canadian rock guitarist, keyboardist and singer who began his recording career in the mid-1970s and has released such popular albums as 1979’s “Live! Go for What You Know” and 1980’s “Crash and Burn,” and such classic rock tunes as “Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights)” and “Snortin’ Whiskey.” Some of the very best rock musicians have backed Travers over the years, including bassist Peter “Mars” Cowling, and drummers Nicko McBrain and Tommy Aldridge, while Travers has shared bills with some of the greatest rock acts of all-time, including Rush, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Motörhead, and Ozzy Osbourne, among many others.
More about Epic Tantrum:
Syracuse based Epic Tantrum released their critically acclaimed debut album, “Abandoned in the Strangers Room” in January of 2020. The release has been praised around the world for their first rate songwriting and stellar musicianship.
"A perfect blend of prog and metal" - Mike Portnoy, (Dream Theater, Sons Of Apollo and more)
"this band is a force to be reckoned with" - Pete Pardo, Sea of Tranquility
More about Sonus Umbra:
Sonus Umbra is a prog rock group made up of some of the most accomplished veteran musicians of the Chicago rock music scene. The band which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary traces its roots back to early 90’s Mexico City, followed by a stint in the late 90’s and early 00’s in Baltimore. Sonus Umbra has released six critically acclaimed albums, toured extensively throughout North America, and appeared at major music festivals including RoSfest (USA), Progtoberfest (USA), Terra Incognita (Canada) and Rompiendo Fronteras/Breaking Borders (Mexico). The band includes Rich Poston on guitar/keyboards/vocals, Tim McCaskey on guitar/vocals, Steve Royce on flute/vocals/holophonics, Roey Ben-Yoseph on lead vocals/percussion, Brittany Lee Moffitt on lead vocals, Bill Harrison on drums, with Andy Tillotson on drums/guitar/vocals and Luis Nasser on bass the last two standing from previous incarnations. Sonus Umbra plays dark, symphonic prog rock that is equally influenced by bands like Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Rush, Jethro Tull, Iron Maiden and King Crimson.
More about Chris Caffery:
Chris Caffery an American musician, best known for his work as a member of Savatage and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
More about Andy Powell:
Andy Powell is an English guitarist and songwriter. He is a founding member of the British band Wishbone Ash, whose use of twin lead guitars was influential. Wishbone Ash are noted for their extensive use of harmony twin lead guitars, which had been attracting electric blues bands since Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page had played together in the Yardbirds in 1966 Their contributions helped Andy Powell and Ted Turner to be voted "Two of the Ten Most Important Guitarists in Rock History" (Traffic magazine 1989), and to appear in the "Top 20 Guitarists of All Time" (Rolling Stone). Melody Maker (1972) described Powell and Turner as "the most interesting two guitar team since the days when Beck and Page graced The Yardbirds". Several notable bands have cited Wishbone Ash as an influence, including Iron Maiden, Van Halen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Thin Lizzy, Metallica, Dream Theater, Overkill and Opeth.
Devin explains why the heaviest music comes from the most sensitive people, not "sociopaths".
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Neeley and Chris dive into the bizarre legal fallout of a Tennessee school board member facing criminal assault charges after a context-dependent comment to a student. Was it a predatory move, or did an algorithmic outrage mob just destroy a 20-year career over a colloquial phrase? Immediately following that, the hosts react to the shocking viral footage of an elderly woman engaging in a physical brawl with a Tim Hortons shift leader. We break down the footage, look at who threw the first punch, and ask the uncomfortable question: Has public decorum officially collapsed?
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Nazareth founding member Pete Agnew doesn't pull punches when discussing the state of the music industry and the upcoming "Titans of Classic Rock" tour with Foghat. While the world remembers them for the legendary ballad "Love Hurts," Agnew reveals the raw, hard-rocking reality of a band that has survived five decades of industry shifts. From the "gift from the gods" in new vocalist Gianni Pontillo to the polarizing effect of the internet on global setlists, this is an uncensored look at rock royalty still claiming their throne. Discover why the "original rockers" are the only ones left who truly understand the spirit of the 70s.
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ON THIS EPISODE:
02:15 - The Titans...
Why is everyone still suing Michael Jackson's estate? Neeley and Chris are giving their honest take on the skepticism surrounding the latest legal battle and reviewing the trailer for the upcoming MICHAEL biopic. We're also talking about the tragedy of the woman who fell off the cruise ship and the infuriating new trend of "seat squatting" on planes. Finally, CMS Producer Weezie honors our lost friend, Bob Nalbandian. Share and follow for the metal-fueled truth! Get commercial-free episodes by joining Rumble Premium at https://rumble.com/premium. Hail and Kill! Join the rebellion!
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Seriously, how do you keep your music fresh when you're a band with a decades-long history? It's tough! Chris chats with Agnostic Front bassist Mike Gallo about their latest, ECHOES OF ETERNITY. They talk about the killer sound improvements, what it was like working with a legend like DMC for the first time, and the guts it takes to try new things as a legacy act. Don't just listen—hit that share button, follow us, and subscribe to Rumble Premium for more! Hail and Kill! Join the rebellion!
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What’s crazier: Lemmy destroying a multi-million dollar mixing board with a cheeseburger, or King Diamond getting $26,000 a year from his government just for being an artist? Neeley and Chris tackle these wild metal stories! We also review George Lynch's new single, which he released after admitting he totally lied about retiring. Hint: the guys are NOT impressed. Plus, check out the insane guitar talent from a young private school student. Like, follow, and share this video! Get commercial-free episodes and more by joining Rumble Premium at https://rumble.com/premium. Hail and Kill! Join the rebellion!
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@classicmetalshow Do we think this is down to poor ticket sales/high ticket prices, has Gene fell out of favour for unpopular opinions he has voiced, is he just old news and people are just not interested anymore, or is there some other reason? Interested to know what people say.
If you read Stevie Rachelle’s piece on Metal Sludge about the dodgy Australian promoter here’s a TV piece about it.
The school system went completely off the rails over a yearbook quote, and nobody can tell if it's a setup or sheer panic. Plus, the entertainment pipeline has officially shifted from high-end premium dramas to selling foot pics on reality TV. A lot of fans aren't sure what to make of how cheap things have gotten.
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BEAST IN BLACK has officially ended months of speculation by announcing Markus Venehsalo as its new guitarist, and whether fans like it or not, this move signals that the band's next era is already underway. After the departure of longtime guitarist Kasperi Heikkinen, the question wasn't whether the band would find a replacement—it was whether anyone could realistically step into that role without triggering comparisons and criticism from diehard fans.
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Here's the reality: replacing a guitarist who spent a decade helping define a band's live identity is never a simple personnel update. It's a statement. It's a risk. And it's a test of how confident a band is in its future.
BEAST IN BLACK announced in 2025 that Heikkinen was leaving the group after ten years, creating one of the most significant lineup changes in the band's history. At the time, the band continued touring while searching for the right long-term fit.
Now that search appears over.
According to the band's announcement, Markus Venehsalo has officially joined the lineup, giving fans their first real glimpse of what the next phase of BEAST IN BLACK will look like.
And the timing couldn't be more important.
The band is already preparing for one of the most critical periods of its career. Founder Anton Kabanen recently sat out touring activity to focus on completing BEAST IN BLACK's long-awaited fourth studio album, openly admitting that the project has faced years of obstacles, delays, and creative challenges.
That means Venehsalo isn't simply joining a successful touring band.
He's walking directly into the pressure cooker of a new album cycle.
That's where things get interesting.
Fans don't judge replacement members on announcement day. They judge them when the new songs arrive. They judge them when classic tracks hit the stage. They judge them when inevitable comparisons begin flooding social media.
And let's be honest—those comparisons are already starting.
BEAST IN BLACK has built one of the most recognizable sounds in modern power metal, blending traditional metal, massive hooks, and an unapologetically theatrical style that has helped turn them into one of Finland's biggest modern metal exports.
The challenge for Venehsalo won't be technical ability.
The challenge will be convincing fans that this isn't a downgrade, a placeholder, or simply "the guy replacing Kasperi."
He has to become part of the identity.
That's a much tougher assignment.
The next album may ultimately determine how this lineup change is remembered.
If the record lands with the impact fans expect, Venehsalo's arrival could quickly become a non-story—a seamless transition that strengthens the band heading into its next decade.
If it doesn't?
Every disappointed fan comment will circle back to this announcement.
That's how metal fans operate.
And that's why this move matters far more than a typical lineup update.
What do you think? Is BEAST IN BLACK making the right move, or does replacing a decade-long member create risks that can't be ignored?
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Will Markus Venehsalo strengthen BEAST IN BLACK or change the band's chemistry for the worse?
If you've wanted to see Glenn Danzig live, your next opportunity is officially on the calendar.
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Danzig has announced a short run of U.S. dates scheduled for September, bringing Twin Temple, Burning Witches, and ANA along for a series of performances that will culminate with a special hometown-area appearance at Anaheim's Honda Center.
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Tour dates:
Sep. 11 - San Antonio, TX - Boeing at Tech Port
Sep. 12 - Houston, TX - Bayou Music Center
Sep. 14 - New Orleans, LA - The Fillmore
Sep. 17 - Louisville, KY - Louder Than Life
Sep. 18 - Nashville, TN - Pinnacle
Sep. 20 - Grand Prairie, TX - Texas Trust Co Theatre
Sep. 26 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
The announcement continues a trend that's become increasingly common for Danzig over the last several years. Instead of massive coast-to-coast tours, the legendary frontman has favored shorter, carefully selected runs that allow fans a limited number of opportunities to catch him onstage.
That approach has only increased demand whenever new dates are announced.
This latest run includes stops in Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and California, while also featuring an appearance at the Louder Than Life festival. According to Danzig, fans attending the Anaheim show can also expect an additional announcement that has yet to be revealed.
For many metal fans, that's enough reason to pay attention.
Danzig remains one of heavy music's most unique figures. From the Misfits to Samhain to his solo career, he's built a catalog that few artists can match. Songs from albums like Danzig, Lucifuge, and How The Gods Kill continue to draw crowds decades after their release.
What's especially notable about these dates is the supporting lineup.
Burning Witches has steadily established itself as one of the strongest traditional metal bands to emerge in recent years, while Twin Temple continues to carve out a unique identity with its blend of vintage influences and dark theatrical presentation. Combined with Danzig's catalog, the package offers a little more variety than the typical legacy-metal tour.
And that's likely by design.
Rather than simply recreating the past, Danzig has generally preferred putting together bills that introduce audiences to artists operating outside the usual expectations.
The biggest question now is whether additional dates will follow.
Historically, Danzig has been selective about touring, which makes every announcement feel more significant than a standard road run.
For now, these September dates appear to be the only scheduled opportunities to see Danzig headline in the United States.
Given how infrequently those opportunities come around, that may be all the motivation many fans need.
What is the biggest reason you're interested in this tour?
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