Articles by Stephen Humphries

“The busker in my high street is terrible! He never gets any better. I had this idea: he doesn’t realise he’s dead and carries on”: Steven Wilson’s desperate desire to believe in ghosts inspired his last fully prog album

By Stephen Humphries published 25 February 25

2013’s The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories) was a collection of ghost stories in the tradition of Edgar Allan Poe, MR James and spooky 70s kids’ TV. He explained each track in his own words

“We’re prog rock without the solos”: Experimental sounds, non-linear arrangements and big, conceptual ideas would seem to prove Guy Garvey is right about his band Elbow

By Stephen Humphries published 6 March 24

Loved by many in the prog community – less so among purists – the lead singer talks about his love of the genre and where his band fit in

"The Bigelf DNA is stronger than you think." How Mike Portnoy helped resurrect Bigelf with Into The Maelstrom

By Stephen Humphries published 2 March 24

After a six-year absence, Bigelf are back with an album that showcases their muscular new sound. In a career dogged by tragedy and setbacks, the future’s finally looking bright for Damon Fox and co…

“Hearing that incredible orchestration and hearing Peter Gabriel really belting out my lyrics… that was an ambition I didn’t know I had”: How ex Genesis singer helped Elbow frontman’s family through parents’ divorce

By Stephen Humphries published 29 January 24

Gabriel's So album will always have a special place in the Garvey world

“I was looking for a new cliff to dive off to stimulate my creativity…That’s what I’ve done my entire life”: Why Francis Dunnery quit It Bites three times, and where it's taken him

By Stephen Humphries published 11 December 23

A never-ending need to progress has seen him tour with Robert Plant, challenge gun-toting hip-hoppers, emulate Peter Gabriel and bring his late brother’s album back to life

"It’s my songs with the sound and vision of Steven Wilson”. Aviv Geffen on the making of Blackfield IV

By Stephen Humphries published 22 August 23

Despite announcing he was stepping back, Steven Wilson was alongside Aviv Geffen for 2013's fourth Blackfield album, along with some new faces too!

“He’s making different chords underneath all this music… and singing a middle harmony at the same time!” Joe Bonamassa’s love for Chris Squire

By Stephen Humphries published 27 June 23

A blues guitar icon calling a prog bassist his hero? It’s unusual, but it’s not unheard of

The story of Steven WIlson's The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)

By Stephen Humphries published 25 February 23

Released in 2013, Steven Wilson's third solo album The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories), an album of ghost stories, continued his upward trajectory

Elbow: "we're prog rock without the solos"

By Stephen Humphries published 2 March 22

Loved by many in the prog community, less so among purists, Guy Garvey talks about his love of prog and where Elbow fit in

a photograph of DAVID WEIGEL holding his records

Prog rock expert David Weigel takes us through his record collection

By Stephen Humphries last updated 27 February 20

The politics reporter for The Washington Post and author of The Show That Never Ends: The Rise And Fall Of Prog Rock recalls getting turned on to Yes and getting turned down by Robert Fripp

Could Bent Knee's fourth album be the one to break them into the big time?

By Stephen Humphries published 27 June 17

Boston’s Bent Knee are hoping album four will be the change needed to let them quit those day jobs. Prog talks to the six-piece about keeping their sense of humour, hard work and "wild boys"

Anderson Rabin Wakemen on stage in Massachusetts

Anderson Rabin Wakeman, live in Massachusetts

By Stephen Humphries published 30 November 16

Not yet rated

The former Yes men reunite for an evening of classic hits

John Wesley - a way you’ll never be album cover

John Wesley - a way you’ll never be album review

By Stephen Humphries published 26 September 16

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Former Portcupine Tree sideman John Wesley flares up on hard rock opus.

Toni Childs album cover for the woman's boat

Toni Childs' The Woman's Boat - it's prog, Jim, but not as we know it

By Stephen Humphries published 23 September 16

Just how prog was Toni Childs' 1994 album?

Burnt Belief - Emergent album review

By Stephen Humphries published 22 September 16

Not yet rated

A special relationship between UK and USA musicians in Burnt Belief

Yes live review - Massachusetts

By Stephen Humphries published 18 August 16

Not yet rated

Yes prove they're still roadworthy as Asia's Jay Schellen is the latest addition to their ever-changing line-up

The Pineapple Thief album artwork for Your Wilderness

The Pineapple Thief - Your Wilderness album review

By Stephen Humphries published 15 July 16

Not yet rated

Thieves steal Gavin Harrison for return-to-prog record.

Cuneiform Records' Steve Feigenbaum poses against some pink blossom

Everything you need to know about Cuneiform Records

By Stephen Humphries published 16 June 16

Just what is the experimental music label Cuneiform all about?

Bent Knee group shot with Gavin's arms outstretched

Roach motels and Bill Bruford: Welcome to Bent Knee's crazy world

By Stephen Humphries published 16 June 16

Boston-based sextet Bent Knee may not have set out to be strictly prog, but the Berklee College alumni have a fan in Bill Bruford and make an adventurous and unusual potion of sounds - whether

From 80s music to jungle life, welcome to the world of Shearwater

By Stephen Humphries published 26 February 16

When he’s not researching feathered creatures in far-off jungles, Jonathan Meiburg fronts folky psych rockers Shearwater. And their ninth album is out now...

Perfect Beings Discover Themselves On Their Second Album

By Stephen Humphries published 6 October 15

Perfect Beings were created by chance after a long road paved with writing pop songs and sleeping in sailboats. But now, the Prog Award-nominated five-piece have found their feet...