Prog Awards 2015

The Progressive Music Awards, that’s Prog Rock Awards to us, that are now in their fourth year, took place at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre’s Underglobe last night in London and among the big winners was the brilliant Gentle Giant. They were awarded a long overdue lifetime achievement award.

Singer and guitarist, Steven Wilson is definitely the current king of prog rock, winning three awards. Wilson fronts the band Porcupine Tree and has now found solo success with his album Hand. Cannot. Erase. It won the awards for album of the year, commercial breakthrough and box set design.

Another well deserved winner was Genesis keyboard man, Tony Banks who won the Prog God award, while Swedish metal veterans Opeth won best band.

Pink Floyd had three nominations but won nothing for their album The Endless River, based on unreleased material from sessions for their 1994 album The Division Bell.

Full list of winners at the Prog Awards 2015
Limelight (for up-and-coming bands): Heights
Live event: Marillion Weekends
Vanguard (for acts who deserve wider recognition): Purson
Anthem: Public Service Broadcasting – Gagarin
The Storm Thorgerson grand design (box set design): Steven Wilson – Hand. Cannot. Erase.
Album of the year: Steven Wilson – Hand. Cannot. Erase.
Band of the year: Opeth
Commercial breakthrough: Steven Wilson
Outer Limits: Roy Wood
Virtuoso: Danny Thompson
Guiding light: Roger Dean
Visionary: Bill Nelson
Lifetime achievement: Gentle Giant
Prog God: Tony Banks

So all in all…Thank Prog It’s Friday…