Prog manager Andy Farrow lists his favourite live shows and recordings

Andy Farrow backstage with some of the rider

FARROW’S FAVES

FIVE FAVOURITE RECORDINGS

1. Draconian Times Paradise Lost, MFN/Relativity, 1995.

“That was the massive breakthrough album for them in Europe.”

2. Blackwater Park Opeth, MFN/Koch, 2001.

“A groundbreaking record for me.”

3. Casualties Of Cool Casualties Of Cool, HevyDevy, 2014.

“Devin came to me and said he wanted to do something different than metal. It was an Americana/blues kind of record and I really love to sit back and listen to that record.”

4. Weather Systems Anathema, Kscope, 2012.

“Although I got involved after this record, I really like it as an album.”

5. The Fall Of Hearts Katatonia, Peaceville, 2016.

“Katatonia keep improving – tremendous songwriting, and great lyrics. The melancholy really uplifts me.”

FARROW’S FAB FIVE

TOP LIVE PERFORMANCES

1. Opeth: Royal Albert Hall, London, April 5, 2010.

“We were filming it. Mikael was blown away with it. That was a really important one for them.”

2. Devin Townsend Project: The Retinal Circus, Roundhouse, London, October 27, 2012.

“I came up with this idea of Devin as a fairground ringleader. We got the imagery together; it sold out straight away.”

3. Anathema: Starmus Festival, Tenerife, June 30, 2016.

“They played a cover of Pink Floyd’s Keep Talking and were joined on stage by Stephen Hawking – a great spectacle to witness.

4. 65daysofstatic: Koko, London, March 27, 2014.

“The tenth anniversary show for Fall Of Math.”

5. Katatonia: Koko, London, May 6, 2011.

“The band’s 20th anniversary show at Koko.”

Devin Townsend Project performing The Retinal Circus

Devin Townsend Project performing The Retinal Circus (Image credit: Kevin Nixon)
Daryl Easlea

Daryl Easlea has contributed to Prog since its first edition, and has written cover features on Pink Floyd, Genesis, Kate Bush, Peter Gabriel and Gentle Giant. After 20 years in music retail, when Daryl worked full-time at Record Collector, his broad tastes and knowledge led to him being deemed a ‘generalist.’ DJ, compere, and consultant to record companies, his books explore prog, populist African-American music and pop eccentrics. Currently writing Whatever Happened To Slade?, Daryl broadcasts Easlea Like A Sunday Morning on Ship Full Of Bombs, can be seen on Channel 5 talking about pop and hosts the M Means Music podcast.