Some festivals are inconveniently timed, while others are not exactly nearby – and in this case, both apply.
For those unfamiliar with ProgPower USA: this is where Nightwish once met MaYaN… with Floor Jansen.
ProgPowerUSA has been around since 2001, with the first edition taking place in Illinois before settling in Atlanta. Initially designed as a two-day festival, it expanded to four days in 2016, and now all shows take place at CenterStage.
On a European scale, this festival is on the smaller end. With roughly 1000 seats, CenterStage is comparable to the Effenaar in the Netherlands, where the Prognosis Festival is staged. Its European namesake, ProgPowerEurope in Baarlo, is about half its size.
Over the years, the lineup has featured almost all the important names in Progressive and Power Metal. Symphony X, Blind Guardian, Pagans Mind, Threshold, as well as Nightwish and Epica, to name a few.
For many smaller bands, PPUSA serves as their first gig in the US and can be a gateway to future tours. Unfortunately, it’s also a recurring challenge for bands to meet the US immigration requirements. This leads to last-minute band swaps due to lengthy visa procedures or financial barriers.
A unique aspect of the festival is the ticketing system. Day 1 and 2 have individual tickets, while Day 3 and 4 come as combo tickets, and there are no festival passes. If you want to attend, keep an eye on the pre-sale. The combo tickets sell out quickly. Accommodations must also be planned carefully since the date might clash with NFL events featuring the Atlanta Falcons on the same weekend, as is the case this year.
The 22nd edition boasts 22 bands in the lineup, half of them from Europe. Headliners include Kamelot (Fri) and Myrath (Sat) while the “WarmUpDays” feature Beast in Black and Doro.
Kamelot, on their fifth appearance, rightfully claim the headliner position with their latest album, Awaken the World. Given Ad Infinitum‘s performance on the same day, it’s likely that Melissa Bonny will join as a guest vocalist.
Battle Beast is one of those bands “pulled out of the hat” as a replacement for Wind Rose, hence the unusual TimeSlot on Friday. Since Xandria and Battle Beast are on US tour with Kamelot, Xandria will at least hold a singing session on Friday.
Saturday promises powerful performances from Myrath and Unleash the Archers. The Tunisians with their Blazing Desert Metal have a new album in the pipeline, not yet released, but they’ve already given a taste of it on the European tour with Kamelot. Expect a visual spectacle with belly dancing and fire-breathers, but remember to close your eyes and just listen to their music at times.
North American fans will surely be intrigued by Delain’s first performance with their new vocalist.
Opening Day on Wednesday is reserved for Doro, who will be celebrating her 40th stage anniversary at Wacken this year. The quartet of headliners will be completed by Beast in Black on Thursday.
LineUp:
| Saturday | Friday | Thursday | Wednesday |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myrath | Kamelot | Beast in Black | Doro |
| Unleash the Archers | Caligula’s Horse | Vola | Swallow the Sun |
| Delain | Green Carnation | The Halo Effect | Cynic |
| Visions of Atlantis | Ad Infinitum | Zero Hour | Elvenking |
| Evil Invaders | Battle Beast | Seven Kingdoms | The Reticent |
| Poverty’s No Crime | The Cryptex |
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