Dayseeker Announce "Replica" Acoustic Album + Share "Burial Plot" (Feat. Caleb Shomo)

Southern California's DAYSEEKER — Rory Rodriguez [vocals], Gino Sgambelluri [guitar], Ramone Valerio [bass], and Zac Mayfield [drums] — are pleased to announce their forthcoming acoustic album Replica, which arrives digitally on April 19 and physically on June 14 via Spinefarm. Pre-save it here. 

The stripped down, intimate renditions of familiar fan favorites highlight the band's songcraft and allow the listener to experience Dayseeker in an entirely new way. The collection also includes an Evanescence cover and appearances from Holding Absence's Lucas Woodland and indie artist Amber DeLaRosa.

To accompany the news, the band has shared the visualizer for "Burial Plot" (Feat. Caleb Shomo of Beartooth). Listen and watch below. 

This gorgeous version's heft comes from the restraint, refined instrumentation and the high impact vocal interplay.

"'Burial Plot (Acoustic)' is our third rendition that's officially been released so we knew we had to make it special and interesting for our fans," says Rodriguez. "Caleb Shomo absolutely helped transform this song and it's one of our favorites."

Commenting on the album itself, Rodriguez says, "Replica is one of our favorite releases to date. It completely shows a new side to our band and the kind of music we're capable of creating."

Replica is the somewhat unexpected (yet welcomed) result of a specific gig in 2022, when the band's gear overheated at Blue Ridge Rock Festival. Thinking on his feet, Rodriguez grabbed an acoustic guitar from the van, plugged in, and performed "Without Me." Soon, he had pulled together a five-song set on the fly as thousands of fans flocked to the stage.
 
"“I felt like we let people down, but I had so many friends say, 'Everyone will remember the day your equipment stopped working and you still played the set as a really special moment’,'" he recalls. "It felt natural for our songs. We usually will do extra tracks for a Deluxe version or re-release, but we decided to commit to an entire acoustic album this time."

Dayseeker will also embark on a headline tour this spring. The tour kicks off April 19 in Tampa and runs through May 25 in San Diego. All dates are below, including spring festival appearances, such as Rockfest, Earthday Birthday, and more. Polaris, Rain City Drive, Avoid, and Ayron Jones are set to appear at select dates on the bill, as well.

Get tickets here. 

DAYSEEKER ON TOUR:
WITH POLARIS, RAIN CITY DRIVE, AVOID, + AYRON JONES:
4/19 — Tampa, FL — Amalie Arena (98 ROCKFEST) %
4/20 — Orlando, FL — Central Florida Fairgrounds (Earthday Birthday) %
4/22 — Columbia, SC — The Senate &@
4/23 — Norfolk, VA — The NorVa &@
4/25 — Newark, NJ — Prudential Center (WDHA’s Rock The Rock Fest) %
4/26 — Baltimore, MD — CFG Bank Arena (98 Rock Spring Thing) %
4/27 — Las Vegas, NV — Sick New World %
4/29 — Buffalo, NY — Buffalo Riverworks *+@
4/30 — Ft. Wayne, IN — Piere’s Entertainment Center *+@
5/1 — Grand Rapids, MI — The Intersection *+@
5/3 — Milwaukee, WI — Fiserv Forum (Hog Fest) %
5/4 — Saint Paul, MN — Xcel Energy Center (93X Twin City Takeover) %
5/5 — Des Moines, IA — Val Air Ballroom *+@
5/7 — Sauget, IL — Pop’s *+@
5/8 — Chattanooga, TN — The Signal *+@
5/10 — New Orleans, LA — House of Blues @
5/11 — Birmingham, AL — Iron City *+@
5/12 — Little Rock, AR — Little Rock Music Hall *+@
5/14 — Kansas City, MO — Uptown Theater *+@
5/15 — Oklahoma City, OK — Town Theatre *+@
5/16 — Omaha, NE — The Admiral *@
5/18 — Louisville, KY — Mercury Ballroom +@
5/19 — Bloomington, IL — Castle Theater *+@
5/22 — Albuquerque, NM — Sunshine Theater *+@
5/23 — Tucson, AZ — Rialto Theatre *+@
5/24 — Las Vegas, NV — Brooklyn Bowl *+@
5/25 — San Diego, CA — Soma *+@
%Dayseeker only
*Polaris
+Rain City Drive
&Ayron Jones
@Avoid 

Dayseeker are a quiet killer. The band has steadily built a buzz over the past several years — and they have reached a tipping point. Dayseeker have become a scene standout with 2019's Sleeptalk, which was hailed by Alternative Press as  "a warm and welcome release to higher ground" and as "much needed fresh air into the post-hardcore scene.

The album has gone on to accumulate over 125 million streams, and it positioned the band as a formidable force — and one that is primed to take its next big leap. In 2021, the band dropped a deluxe version of Sleeptalk, featuring four reimagined versions of album tracks, which offered fans a fresh and unique take on songs they already love. It also demonstrated the depth and breadth of the band's creative vision, scope, and possibilities. However, Dark Sun catapulted the band beyond the scene's stratosphere. The album is out now via Spinefarm and is at 80 millions streams.

SONATA ARCTICA - Announce New Dates For The Acoustic Album And Tour In 2022!

Reveal Postponed Tour Dates
+
"Acoustic Adventures - Volume One"
for 2022

Finnish melodic metal titans SONATA ARCTICA are a band with a unique sound, driven by different emotions and a touch of melancholy. Today, the band announces the new release date of their first acoustic album, perfectly entitled "Acoustic Adventures - Volume One", to be released on January, 21st 2022. Also the panned acoustic tour had to be postponed into next year and will start in October 2022.

“Despite the circumstances slowly getting better, we will, unfortunately, have to postpone our 'Acoustic Adventures European Tour' that was supposed to happen this fall. This is not a light decision by any means but right now we cannot go forward with the tour as planned. However we will be back in 2022, postponed doesn’t mean canceled. Our 'Acoustic Adventures Vol. One' album will also be released a few months later than originally planned but rest assured, it will be worth the wait. We’re really looking forward to getting out there again and play for you all, rather sooner than later. Meanwhile, take care", says keyboard player Henrik “Henkka” Klingenberg.

"This acoustic form of SONATA ARCTICA has been slowly brewing for years", comments vocalist Tony Kakko and explains: "The first manifestation of it, besides the few acoustic versions of songs released throughout the years, was the 'Acoustic Adventures Tour' in 2019, which proved to be a great success, sparking an idea to get these songs also recorded and out on an album. Or two albums, at least for starters. Our songs have always been based on beautiful melodies, which makes it very easy to transform and rearrange them perfectly into the acoustic form as well. I should mention that many of the songs work so well dressed in acoustic garments."

Acoustic Adventures - Volume One will be the first part, followed by a second acoustic record, to be released in October 2022. "I hope you love these albums as much as we do. There are many, many songs we had to leave out of these 'Volume One' and 'Volume Two' albums, so nothing would please me more than adding few more volumes in the future", says vocalist Tony Kakko.

The postponed tour is going to happen in autumn 2022 now, entitled the "Acoustic Adventures MMXXII" tour. To promote both Acoustic Adventures releases, the band will embark on a journey through 17 European countries! Support will be provided by Swedish hopefuls ELEINE, who will also be presenting an acoustic set.

SONATA ARCTICA
Acoustic Adventures MMXXII
Special Guests: ELEINE
presented by Metal Hammer (Ger), Rock It (Ger), Musix (Ger), Rock Hard (F), Power (ES), Rocksverige (S) and Scream (NO)

Ticket pre-sale links under: https://www.dragon-productions.eu/sonata-arctica/

Steve Hackett announces new acoustic album ‘Under A Mediterranean Sky’ for release 22nd January 2021

Iconic guitarist Steve Hackett, releases his new acoustic album Under A Mediterranean Sky on 22ndJanuary 2021 as a Limited CD Digipak, Gatefold 2LP + CD + LP-booklet and Digital Album via InsideOut Music. Under A Mediterranean Sky is Steve Hackett’s first acoustic solo album since Tribute in 2008 and takes inspiration from Steve’s extensive travels around the Mediterranean with his wife Jo.

Working closely with long-time musical partner Roger King, Hackett has used his time during 2020’s lockdown to take us on an extraordinary musical journey around the Mediterranean, painting vivid images of stunning landscapes and celebrating the diverse cultures of the region. Famed for his rock roots with Genesis, and through his extensive solo catalogue, Hackett demonstrates the exquisite beauty of the nylon guitar at times venturing into the exotic ethnic and often supported by dazzling orchestral arrangements.

“A lot of acoustic ideas had been forming over the years, and it felt like the perfect time to create this album,”notes Hackett, “a time to contemplate the places we’ve visited around the Mediterranean with the kind of music which evolved from the world of imagination.

“Because we can’t really travel, substantially at the moment, I hope that the album will take people on that journey. Whether you sit down and listen to it or drift off to it with a glass of wine…”
Our journey around the Med begins on the island of Malta, in Mdina – The Walled City. It’s imposing strength is portrayed by Roger King’s dramatic orchestration while Hackett’s guitar weaves through the atmospheric streets describing the creativity, love and strength that held Malta together between all the waves of conflict.

With Hackett’s delicate guitar work, Adriatic Blue paints an enchanting view of stunning scenery as tall cliffs of forested mountains plunge into the deep blue sea along the Croatian coastline. Sirocco is altogether more atmospheric, inspired by the winds playing through the imposing structures of Egypt.
The lively Joie de Vivre expresses the unique sense of joy the French have through their wine, food and folk music, with paintings reflecting family gatherings, spectacular vistas and the vibrant colours of their cities. The art of dreaming is embodied in their sensual love of life.

“At first hand, I’ve marvelled at the mystical whirling Dervishes,” says Hackett. Along with otherworldly beings such as the Djin (Genie) they sprang from Persia’s dreaming past. The Dervish And The Djin captures the extraordinary atmosphere of this most exotic of civilisations with the help of Hackett’s touring band regular - Rob Townsend’s soprano sax, the tar of Malik Mansurov (from Azerbaijan) and Armenian Arsen Petrosyan’s duduk. “Of course, those countries are virtually at war with each other,” Hackett adds, “and there has been something like a thousand casualties (at the time of writing) on both sides. Again, it’s a case of music being able to do things that politicians fail to do - something constructive.”

The Memory of Myth embodies the deep and rich history of Greece and features the violin of Christine Townsend (no relation) while Lorato - ‘love’ in the language of the African Tswana tribe – is a pretty folk tune. Love is the force that heals and links all disparate peoples of the Mediterranean.

Hackett and his wife Jo were enchanted by the little Faun statue in the House of the Faun, Pompeii. “The villas there seemed to come back to life as we walked through those wonderful atriums and gardens,” inspiring Casa del Fauno and featuring the light and airy flute of Hackett’s brother John and Rob Townsend on flute.

The only non-original piece is Domenico Scarlatti’s Sonata. This embodies the Baroque music of Italy, a sensitive interpretation embellished with cross-string trills, a technique introduced to Hackett by the fine classical guitarist, the late Theo Cheng.

Hackett also expresses his admiration for the flamenco guitarists of Andalucía who are celebrated on Andalusian Heart. “One of the flamenco guitarists was showing me the extraordinary things they are able to do,” Hackett explains. “Seeing the gypsies playing and dancing in caves there, you get the feeling that these people are dancing for their lives.”

Our journey comes to an end with The Call Of The Sea, a gentle and peaceful reflection of the vast body of water that unites the many civilisations both ancient and modern.

Under A Mediterranean Sky features Steve Hackett playing nylon, steel string and twelve string guitars, charango and Iraqi oud. Keyboards, programming and orchestral arrangements are by Roger King. Featured musicians are John Hackett and Rob Townsend, flute (Casa del Fauno); Malik Mansurov, tar and Arsen Petrosyan, duduk & Rob Townsend, Sax (The Dervish And The Djin); Christine Townsend, violin (The Memory of Myth and The Call Of The Sea). All tracks were produced by Steve Hackett and Roger King with all tracks recorded and mixed by Roger King at Siren.

“I had a great time doing this album, seeing it take shape, and I’m very pleased with the outcome. I’m very proud of it,” says Hackett. “The nylon guitar has a very individual sound but, within the compass of what the nylon-strung guitar can do, there are a lot of different tones. You can do the full-on attack, the kind of salvo that you expect from the flamenco players but, at the same time, it can also be very gentle, gentle as a harp. It’s shades of black and white. It’s also exciting to play alongside instruments from around the world, as well as a wide range of orchestral sounds.”


About Steve Hackett

Steve Hackett joined Genesis at the beginning of 1971 and gained an international reputation as the guitarist in the band’s classic line-up alongside Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins. Steve’s intricate guitar work was a key element of Genesis’ albums from Nursery Cryme (1971) to Wind And Wuthering(1977) including the classic Selling England By The Pound.

After leaving Genesis at the end of 1977, Steve’s solo career, which now spans more than 30 albums, has demonstrated his extraordinary versatility with both electric and acoustic guitar. Steve is renowned as both an immensely talented and innovative rock musician and a virtuoso classical guitarist and composer and this was recognised in 2010 when he was inducted into the Rock Hall Of Fame. He has also worked alongside Steve Howe of YES in the supergroup GTR.

Steve’s compositions take influences from many genres, including jazz, classical and blues. For his later studio works The Night Siren (2017) and At The Edge Of Light (2019) Steve has explored the influences of world music. Recent tours have seen Steve celebrate his time with Genesis including a spectacular 2018 tour in which Steve realised a long-held ambition to perform the works of Genesis live with his band and an orchestra. He recently released Selling England by the Pound & Spectral Mornings: Live at Hammersmith, a live recording of his hugely successful 2019 tour that saw him celebrating that Genesis classic, as well as the 40thanniversary of one of his most-loved solo albums.

STEVE HACKETT Online:
www.hackettsongs.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Steve-Hackett/123101228589
www.twitter.com/HackettOfficial
http://hackettsongs.com/tour.html