New videos
Here is the background story for two important video releases filed under ‘Unitopia and side projects‘
1. Traveler (Mark Trueack with the Samurai of Prog) – from the album ‘Secrets of Disguise, with Marco Bernard, Kimmo Pörsti, Steve Unruh, and Mark on vocals. This is the remake of an early Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) song.
2. Day 6 Ninth Tale – Unitopia (from Decameron II) (Mark Trueack, Sean Timms, Tim Irrgang, David Hopgood, and special guest Steve Unruh (violins, flute) from the Samurai of Prog.
What is interesting about these two videos is Mark’s collaboration with Steve Unruh. They are writing, arranging, and recording for ‘Decameron 3’ as well as for UPF’s ‘Planetary Overload – Songs of Hope’ while Mark is in the USA this month.
Special Guests Announced
UPF (A) is delighted to announce two new members to our Australian base. They are Dan Burgess (sax), who played and toured with Unitopia in 2011-12. Dan [bio] plays flute, clarinet, all sax instruments, and didgeridoo. Also, on piano, keyboards, and vocals we are proud to welcome Barry Timmins. Barry [bio] has a strong musical background and will add the songwriting and arrangements on the new album.
On the last album we were extremely fortunate to have the brilliant Steve Hackett.. well I received confirmation that he will indeed lend his guitar talents once more; he is a real gentleman. While I was in London I caught up with Steve’s former keyboardist Nick Magnus [bio], he too will play keys on one of the tracks.
The Fraternity is Growing
The Fraternity is growing! UPF is recruiting some fantastic new musicians for future tours, recordings and shows. We will be making announcements very soon… Truey X
Pro-active Sydney trip
Spent an extended long week-end in Sydney choosing arrangements from another great composer Dale Nougher we chatted about the concepts for Planetary Overload and some of the music he had written. I am very excited about the music that was presented to me. Dale is a new age composer with lots of world influences, I jammed a lyrical idea to one of the tracks and knitted perfectly, More soon…Truey X
Laying Down Vocals in USA
My charming wife Cheryl and I will be heading to Providence USA in late September / early October. We will spend some time in L.A. and Vegas, then fly 7 hours to Providence to meet with the great Steve Unruh in order to write and record new songs for “Planetary Overload – Loss and Hope”. I have already penned many lyrical concepts and have plenty of new ideas that will bring this project together. Meanwhile on the other side of the planet, Guy Manning has created two more arrangements that are being reviewed by the band. Guy has already collaborated with me on a new piece called “Dark Sun” (a 16 min piece about air pollution). Steve Unruh has embraced the demo and is adding ideas to the arrangement.
The great thing about all of these collaborations,is that every song will be recorded and we will all have a say on what makes the final package. The songs that don’t make it onto this next album, will probably be played live on the forthcoming tour. I am also catching up with Nick Magnus over the week-end to discuss arrangement ideas. More soon…. Truey X
Planetary Overload – Loss and Hope
UPF Australia had their first official get together with regards to working on new album, expectations, tour 2017 plus outlining lyrical ideas for the new project and what we wanted to achieve in the coming year. We will be announcing producers and guest artists in the coming months, watch this space for more. Truey X
12 Month Anniversary/More info on “Planetary Overload – Loss and Hope”
Hello to all UP frat members!
As the UNITED PROGRESSIVE FRATERNITY celebrates its first 12 month of existence, I am happy to announce that UPF band members around the world (we are truly international) are currently hard at work on the follow-up to our debut album ‘Fall in Love with the World’.
The concept behind the next project will delve deeper into the environmental issues that we all face as a united world. We have several band members working on the music, arrangements and lyrical ideas. Even our own Julia Bradshaw (UPF Manager) has come up with some very interesting ideas based on the book ‘Planetary Overload’ by Professor Tony McMichael, who sadly passed away in September 2014. We actually have clearance from the publisher to use the title of the book for the new album.
One of the first tracks that we are working on is ‘Mercenaries’. which was written and arranged by Steve Unruh. This track was specifically written for the upcoming ‘Decameron 3’ project but will also be featured on ‘Planetary Overload’. We are still looking for people who want to contribute towards our upcoming projects as we want to make this a truly united effort on all fronts. Contact me if you have an idea to contribute.
Many of you are asking about guest musicians and who they may be. I am glad to say we have commitments from several brilliant musicians and will continue to source for more. We are particularly interested in musicians who play unusual instruments, as this can set up some very unique hooks.
So, as you can see, “Planetary Overload” will be well worth the wait, both musically and lyrically, and will culminate with a series of exciting global musical events and collaborations that will raise further awareness about the plight of our planet and what we can all do to help. Our entire survival depends on what action humanity takes in the next few years, and the United Progressive Fraternity is striving to create the best communicated album ever made. Thank you for your continuing and endearing support, fellow UP frat members! Truey X
Decameron 3
Steve Unruh has just finished the template track for the upcoming Decameron 3. The track is called “Mercenaries” and will also feature on the upcoming “Planetary Overload” double album. Steve has set the track up for everyone to play their bits. It is quite different and will certainly appeal to the more progressive purist. I look forward to adding my voice to the piece. Truey X