ProgStock Redux & An Announcement
This past weekend was the amazing ProgStock at the Williams Center in Rutherford, NJ. ProgStock is a volunteer-run multi-day progressive rock-themed festival that has been going on for ten years. I was asked to attend this year as an arts vendor - just outside the main theater is the "Black Box" where various music and arts related vendors set up and sell their wares for the weekend. I brought a smaller set-up for this show as I wanted to concentrate on smaller works and reproductions as many of the attendees to the festival are traveling. I did bring a few mid-sized works though. I also brought Brandon with me to help.
I was very busy this weekend as I had to work at my booth inbetween all the acts and the shows generally started around 11 am and ran til the evening hours. I had a lot of fun though - all the acts were pros and I got to see some bands I was not familiar with as well as established acts. I also got to meet some fantastic people - from artists such as Paul Whitehead, Victoria Flowers, and Michael Bennett - to the people behind the record labels like The Band Wagon USA and Melodic Revolution Records, and, of course, some lovely fans. Also everyone behind the scenes at ProgStock were great to work with.
AND.... we can finally officially announce this since it was announced on stage at the festival yesterday. The Red Masque will be performing ProgStock 2027! I do not have any more details just yet but we'll be sure to let everyone know the full schedule details when they are finalized.
Some photos from this past weekend are posted below. Second photos is with the legendary artist Paul Whitehead (who came over to my booth to talk to me about my art. He was very kind and when I gifted him a choice of one of my fine art reproductions, he then signed a copy of one of his artworks for me. Fourth photo is myself with Nick from Melodic Revolution Records and Sven from The Band Wagon USA, both of whom were cool people. Photos of the two bands are The Randy McStine Trio and Nektar. The pumpkin carvers were a team led by Deane Arnold, who is a Guiness World Record holder. The woman featured in the photo is Sarah "Bloodstain" Blostein, who is a professional pumpkin carver, as well as as a special effects artist, costume designer etc. She's pretty amazing and carved the Spock pumpkin during the course of the festival.
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