Magenta

Batchain · September 10, 2009, 09:53:55 PM

News just in:

Magenta are thrilled to announce that they will be performing a special acoustic concert at Real World Studios in Box, Wiltshire, England on Saturday 21st November. Real World Studios, in association with Real World Records Ltd, was founded by Genesis legend Peter Gabriel in 1989.

The concert will be recorded for a future CD, and possible DVD, release.

Rob Reed says "After performing several acoustic concerts over the past few years, it seems that the logical progression would be to record an acoustic album, and where better than at Peter Gabriel's amazing studio complex."

After former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett became a fan of the band earlier in the year, Peter Gabriel must surely be next!

"If Mr. Gabriel were to pop in to see what was going on we would welcome and encourage him to join us as I'm sure we could rustle up a Genesis track or two" quipped guitar maestro Chris Fry.

From 70s legends Deep Purple, Robert Plant and King Crimson to contemporary artists like Robbie Williams, Massive Attack and the Arctic Monkeys, clients of Real World Studios comprise a who's who of the music industry.

Rob continues "If we're going to record at such a prestigious venue we might as well pull out all the stops. Real World's 'Wooden Room' as well as having amazing acoustics, has a stunning grand piano which I can't wait to get to grips with. I will also be using a harpsichord and we will be joined by a string quartet which will compliment Magenta's music beautifully."

Magenta intend to play classic songs from all four of their studio albums as well as many of their shorter pieces, some seldom played songs and perhaps a few surprises.

"The prospect of performing at such a legendary studio is incredibly exciting and I can't wait for November 21st" says Magenta vocalist Christina Booth "and although there is only a limited amount of space in the Wooden Room for the audience, we're really looking forward to playing in front of many of our fans and friends".

As well as an audience of press and VIPs, we are offering 40 fans the opportunity to attend this unique event. To apply for tickets please email Magenta on mailto:music@magenta-web.fsnet.co.uk">music@magenta-web.fsnet.co.uk and we'll email back full details very soon.

B xx

Nellie · September 10, 2009, 09:58:38 PM

How convenient :lol:

Pedro · September 10, 2009, 10:34:24 PM

Coffee at Nellie's after?

(only joking of course...might get roped into DIY! :shock: )

rogerg · September 10, 2009, 10:35:05 PM

awesome! grats!

Nellie · September 24, 2009, 10:23:18 PM

Had a reply to the ticket request. The tickets will be £45 each which includes a spot of lunch. I think that's a bit prohibitive.

Pedro · September 25, 2009, 12:53:39 PM

I'd agree that it is a high price but one needs to consider just what this event is.

The band want to record a live acoustic album and try to make a bit of a special occasion out of it. They have hired Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios in which to do this. They have also hired a string quartet for the evening.

As I am sure Jem will agree, funding all this out of one's own pocket is what you might call "prohibitive" so, to offset the cost, the handful of people who can fit in to the venue (I think this is limited to about 40) are being asked to pay what is quite a high price.

I fully agree that it is a lot for a two hour acoustic gig and you don't pay that to go to The Peel and you don't pay that to go to a house concert and you don't pay that to stand in a heaving sweaty crowd to get the occasional glimpse of the top of Jordan Rudess' head....

...but this is none of those things.

The package includes; entrance fee, some form of buffet, some form of drinks, one's name in the album credits, a laminated pass, photo op, etc., etc. All of these things can be described as great or rubbish depending on how much value you attribute to them. Maybe if a different band were doing the same thing one's reaction might be different?

I know that some on here would rather pull their own fingernails out using a bull-dozer than attend a Magenta gig - I say fair enough, move along. There's plenty of stuff I wouldn't pay to go and see too. But, I thought the recent Genesis tour was a screaming rip-off in terms of ticket prices but after the event I kind of wish I'd been there.

So, yes, it's a lot to pay but for what it is and to support a small band who don't hurt anyone (apart from Tom!) in their pursuit of entertaining their fans, I think it should still be seen as an opportunity to be part of something that not many other bands are doing.

MikeEvs · September 25, 2009, 02:01:21 PM

I think Pedro's right, this is one for Magenta fans a special opportunity for those who are into the band. In the past I haven't thought twice about flying across the Atlantic to see a particular gig that I knew I wouldn't see over here. I've only seen Magenta live once and I'm still kind of undecided on them so of course I'm not about to pay £45 for this but I imagine for the 40 or so who do attend will be glad they did regardless of the cost.

johninblack · September 25, 2009, 04:23:47 PM

Let's be honest here, if this was announcing that Frost* were doing this we'd all have tickets by now and would be saying that £45 was reasonable given what a unique event it would be.

Mooncat · September 25, 2009, 05:10:31 PM

I agree that £45 looks steep on the face of it, but compared with some of the 'golden ticket' type experiences that people like Live Nation offer for 'major artists' it's a bargain andyou are getting much more for your money than at one of these mass corporate affairs.
I guess I agree with some of the other posts - if you 'live or die' for the band then it's a bargain - I know several bands who I'd happily pay as much or more to see in a similar setting.

Nellie · September 25, 2009, 10:32:48 PM

Just saying I can't really justify that expense at the moment. Need the cash for manhole covers

Batchain · September 26, 2009, 11:07:35 AM

For anyone unfamiliar with the mighty Magenta, here's a few samplers.

Full-on studio album sample: 12 min clip from "The Ballad of Samuel Layne". One of two epic tracks on the latest stunning album "Metamorphosis"

http://www.magenta-web.co.uk/mp3/samuellayne.mp3

"Live at the Point": short video clip from a 2007 live gig available on both CD and DVD

http://vimeo.com/3886694

House concert:

Magenta acoustic cover of Wondrous Stories and Still Too Young to Remember.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNQJLbhb5Es

Magenta's lead guitarist is Chris Fry. Current CRS "Best Guitarist".

Enjoy!

B xx

Trapezium Artist · September 26, 2009, 12:03:50 PM

Quote from: "johninblack"Let's be honest here, if this was announcing that Frost* were doing this we'd all have tickets by now and would be saying that £45 was reasonable given what a unique event it would be.

The man in black is not wrong, not wrong at all. I'd be there like a flash ...

MikeEvs · September 26, 2009, 12:05:14 PM

Quote from: "Batchain"Magenta's lead guitarist is Chris Fry. Current CRS "Best Guitarist".

Mitchell was robbed :lol: although he did predict he would lose it (see The Reasoning's Dark Angel DVD

)

Mouse · September 26, 2009, 04:10:15 PM

I'd pay £45 just to stand in Gabriel's studios - from what I've been told, that place is like the stuff of my recording dreams.

And Magenta are pretty good, too.

Batchain · November 04, 2009, 02:58:21 PM

"Magenta are excited to announce that they will release a version of the Yes classic Wonderous Stories as a download-only single, on Tigermoth Records, on November 15th.

The song, which will come in three alternative versions, will be available to download from all normal download sites – including Amazon and Itunes worldwide. Rob Reed talks about the bands reasons for the release:

"We are often compared favourably to Yes, and many of our fans have been asking us to have a go at a Yes piece for a while. We have been playing Wonderous Stories as part of our set during our recent run of acoustic gigs, and it was great fun to do and really well received, so we thought we'd take it into the studio and give it the full-band Magenta treatment. We think that we've brought something new to the song while maintaining total respect for the original, and we really hope people enjoy it."

Wonderous Stories, from the Going For the One album, was Yes' biggest UK hit, reaching number 7 in September 1977.

The three versions of the song will be:

1.Wonderous Stories : Full Mix
2.Wonderous Stories : Instrumental Mix
3.Wonderous Stories : Acoustic Mix

The band have also produced a video for the song, and an excerpt can be seen below. The complete video will be made available on the day of release."

http://www.vimeo.com/7429531

B xx

www.magenta-web.co.uk