UPF Bios 2017 Planetary Overload – United Progressive Fraternity

CD1: Loss

PLANETARY OVERLOAD - PART 1: LOSS

The forthcoming releases from United Progressive Fraternity, dubbed 'the most communicated albums ever made’, are an ambitious undertaking that unites the Fraternity in the recording of two CDs worth of material that will delve deeper into the environmental issues that we all face as a united world.

The albums, titled 'Planetary Overload 'Part 1: Loss' (Feb. 2019) & 'Part 2: Hope' (late 2019/early 2020), will focus on the problems we are already beginning to encounter on a troubled planet and expected to face with increasing severity in the near future, and taking immediate positive action to mitigate those effects to ensure humanity’s survival.

United Progressive Fraternity: Band Bios

CD2: Hope

Mark Truey Trueack

Vocals, artistic direction, songwriter, co-production

Having a unique voice, rich in character and tone has helped singer/songwriter Mark Truey Trueack to realise a life-long dream of a career in the music industry. From the mid 80’s to early 90’s, Mark worked on the other side of the industry gaining valuable insight & knowledge as a record company executive for EMI Music.

Also at that time, he pursued his passion for performing by re-creating a Genesis tribute show, ‘The Genesis Touch’. Highly regarded nationally, the group consistently played to packed houses.

While living in Sydney, Mark began his song-writing career with local producer, Matt Coxhead, penning two fine songs, ‘Time For Change’ and ‘This Life’. Returning to Adelaide in 1996, Mark was introduced to Sean Timms by a mutual friend, who noticed the similarities in their musical tastes and personality. After a night on the town & a few beers, the two began a song writing partnership that continues to this day.

Since the formation of Unitopia, Mark has also had several other opportunities to perform, most notably the John Lennon memorial concert on the anniversary of his death in late 2005. Although still working as an executive, Mark always hoped to one day make music his full time occupation as it is already his full time passion.

He is married to his wife of 36 years Cheryl, and they have two talented daughters, Holly (who has a cameo appearance on Justify) and Brittany. A keen surfer, Mark’s love of the sea is exemplified in the songs ‘Fate’ , ‘Inside The Power’, ‘Water’ and ‘Fall in Love with the World’.

As co-founder of Unitopia, Mark was integral part of the process, not only as a world class vocalist, innovative songwriter, creative co-producer and morale booster, but as a relentless driving force behind everything that Unitopia has achieved thus far. The passion he injects into his music is endless (as is his sense of humour!) and his knowledge of the music industry and record companies in particular has given Unitopia a wealth of knowledge from which to draw, making the journey forward an exciting one.

As the end of Unitopia became a reality in early January 2014, Mark had been working on a side project called “The HOPE” back in 2011 with Stephen Layton who was living in a remote area deep in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, in order to discuss some potential song ideas. Stephen's undoubted song arrangement talents in combination of with Mark’s creative vision gelled perfectly.

Stephen had been working on a couple of projects with former Yes Lead vocalist and composer, Jon Anderson (“Survival and other Stories” and the sequel to Jon’s classic “Olias of Sunhillow”) and he soon realised that perhaps there could be a real opportunity to bring the two voices of Jon and Mark together. Stephen contacted Jon Anderson and asked him if he would be interested in working on this project. The piece that was selected to test this exciting collaborative prospect was called “Water”.

The underlying musical content of United Progressive Fraternity ( UPF) is not that dissimilar to that of Unitopia however the sound is much edgier. Having several producers and songwriters within the core group certainly gives the listener a banquet of textures and moods.

Unlike Unitopia though, UPF will always invite special guests aboard for albums. This open door policy will allow Mark to use producers and musicians as the music dictates whilst also allowing each and every musician involved a chance to put their own individual stamp on the music.

“Fall in Love with World” was the first UPF release in 2014, containing over 60min of music that takes the listener on journey of self-discovery. The album was officially launched at the UK’s Summers End Festival in Autumn 2014. For the second album, a songwriting contest was sponsored by the band, and two albums worth of material were written and in the process of being arranged for the second UPF release, Planetary Overload (PO). It was decided to present PO in two parts: LOSS, and HOPE. By May 2017 the arrangements for Part 1: LOSS are nearly completed and being sent to the various musicians that are guesting on the album.

The other project Truey has been working on is 'The Romantic' with Frenchman Chris Lebled and Steve Unruh. They have already experimented with songs from the Unitopia and UPF catalogue with great results, and songs like This Time, The Great Reward and Fall in Love with the World have totally new soundscapes and presentation. Two new songs, New Beginnings, and Avalon of Love are also being written. The First Kiss will follow. A total of 12 songs will make up this album.

Mark has also worked contributed his vocal talents most recently to songs performed by The Samurai of Prog (Ghost Written) and Oliver Rüsing (The Impossible), among others.

Matthew Atherton

Keys, acoustic guitar, vocals

Matthew Atherton is an organist and composer, and is presently teaching at Pembroke School. He received tuition in organ from Christa Rumsey and Dr. David Swale, and in composition and arranging from Tristram Cary. Atherton was the first Organ Scholar at St Peters Cathedral, Adelaide, in 1988, and was organist at St Francis Xaviers Cathedral from 1989 - 2010.

His professional career has featured many solo and ensemble performances, including engagements with the Adelaide Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, most of Adelaide's major choirs, along with many performances for the Adelaide Town Hall's annual organ recital series. He has also performed on numerous cathedral organs around the United Kingdom, Paris, and in Uppsala Cathedral, Sweden. As an organist, he maintains a keen interest in 20th Century and contemporary repertoire, in particular the work of Jehan Alain.

In 1998 he was a participant in workshops at the Calgary International Organ Festival (Canada) with the acclaimed Dr. Marie-Claire Alain (with whom he was also granted a private interview to speak about her brother Jehan). Atherton has also participated in masterclasses and similar events (locally and overseas), with distinguished organists including Dame Gillian Weir, Daniel Roth, and Thomas Trotter. In 2011, Atherton was a guest of the Jehan Alain Association in Romainmôtier, Switzerland, performing on the restored Albert Alain organ.

As composer, Atherton has written in numerous genres for video documentaries, solo organ works, electronic works, vocal, choral, theatre works, orchestral works, and small ensemble pieces. The Graduate Singers and Lumina Vocal Ensemble have premiered a number of his choral works, including the substantial "Requiem To The Unknown", "In Riddles Disappearing", "Around Us" and "Crossing Parallels". In 1999, one of Adelaide’s foremost trios, the Cameo Trio, premiered his compositions "From Life" and the following year, "La Vie est Belle?" Atherton is currently working on an independent film score.

Atherton is a student of Buddhism and member of the Buddha House FPMT community in Adelaide.

In maintaining his sincere affection for Progressive Rock, Jazz, Electronic and Ambient music, Atherton has enjoyed a parallel occupation as a keyboard player in various original and cover bands throughout the years. From the 1990s, he was involved in Genesis Touch (Adelaide’s only Genesis tribute band, with Mark Trueack), Sound (with Mark Franco and Joe Toscano), Glass Onion (a Beatles cover band with Matt Goodluck and Mark Franco), and The William Campbell Conspiracy (also with Mark Franco).

Mark Franco

Bass /vocals

Mark Franco started listening to bands such as Slade and Sweet and T. Rex at a very young age, but was fascinated by Deep Purple when he heard them for the first time at just six years old. After exploring the world of hard rock and heavy metal music, Mark found himself worshiping Rainbow’s Richie Blackmore and hoping to one day become a guitarist in a rock band just like his hero.

Mark became more influenced by the music his older brother and friends were listening to as he grew into his teenage years. Soon, he discovered the music of progressive rock band, YES and by the time he was 16 years old his entire world had changed musically. He no longer wanted to play the guitar but found a strong passion in becoming a bassist like Chris Squire from YES. From then onwards Mark continued to discover legendary and influential bands such as King Crimson, Genital Giant, E.L.P, Jethro Tull, Genesis, Return to Forever and band being a bass player of course Rush, just to name a few. By the time he was in his twenties he then discovered and was captivated by the fretless playing of Jaco Pastorious and Bunny Brunel.

Mark went onto playing in an original progressive rock band ‘Arcane’ featuring Mark Tureak in the mid 80’s with his older brother and going onto various cover and original bands over the years. Notably being a member in the instrumental band ‘Sound’ along with Joe Toscano and Matthew Atherton, who he has now joined up with again in the band UPF.

Mark is looking forward to creating new music with such a strong and meaningful message behind it. He says, “I can’t wait”.

Nick Mastro

Guitars, vocals

Involved in music in some shape or form for what seems forever;

Played in numerous Cover, Tribute and Corporate bands

Currently with popular Corporate Band ‘AudioBox’;

But my greatest love is that of original music, particularly with a strong message,

With UPF nothing’s more important than saving our planet, the vehicle delivering this message

Progressive Rock anything (almost) goes, when you love lots of musical styles it’s a buzz to be involved.

Matt Goodluck

Voiceover

Matt’s mother says she remembers Matt coming down the hallway singing the song “Movie Star” by one hit wonder Harpo, when he was just a toddler – a sign of things to come perhaps? He was always drawn to music as a child and a love of Kiss and the animated music video for Roger Glover and Ronnie James Dio’s hit “Love Is All” both left a huge impression on him.

As a youngster, Matt always had a transistor radio in his room along with a small record collection, which he treasured. “I was an only child until the age of ten and music was a great companion for me, something that entertained me and fully captured my imagination” said Matt. At the age of twelve, he began to discover bands like Van Halen and Rush and instantly fell in love with heavy metal and prog rock. “It was around this time that many of my friends were learning an instrument and while I showed an interest in learning the guitar, it just never really stuck for me” says Matt.

By 18, Matt decided to take some vocal lessons from a local teacher. It was then that he discovered a natural ability to sing but his lack of confidence meant the only person who ever heard him was his teacher! Matt spent much of his 20’s living in the UK and Europe working in the music industry with some of the biggest names in prog rock. However aside from a guest vocal spot on a friend’s album (“Uneasy Listening” by Dirtbox [1999]), he rarely pursued his interests in singing.

Upon returning to Australia in late 2001, Matt finally joined his first band – a Beatles tribute called Glass Onion. Matt explained, “A friend of mine was starting a Beatles cover band and encouraged me to come down and have a jam with them. He said you’ve always wanted to sing, if you don’t have a go now you never will. I figured as it was with people I knew, I had nothing to worry about. It didn’t take long before I realised I could sing the songs well and from there the confidence thing just grew”.

Matt performed locally around the Adelaide music scene for a few years both with Glass Onion and then later with Toast, another group of friends playing classic rock covers by bands like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Whitesnake. Then in 2014, Matt answered an online ad from a Pink Floyd tribute band seeking a lead vocalist. His audition was a success and since then, Matt has been performing in theatres around the country with Echoes of Pink Floyd – Australia’s premier Pink Floyd tribute show. A combination of his experience and passion for Pink Floyd, made him the perfect vocalist to re-create the stylings of both Roger Waters and David Gilmour.

After reconnecting with his old band mates from Toast who introduced him to vocalist Mark Trueack, Matt was honoured to be asked to take part in United Progressive Fraternity. “It’s exciting!” said Matt, “I’ve not really had the opportunity to be a part of an original band before so I really appreciate being asked to contribute to the new UPF album. It’s so great to see Australia really developing quite a respectable prog scene and to be a part of that in some way is a dream for me”.

Octavia Brown

Manager, United Progressive Fraternity

Octavia is one of the 80 or so volunteers who every year put together Italy’s biggest progressive rock event, the 2Days Prog + 1 Festival held every September in Veruno, Piedmont. She became a familiar face and name on the Italian Prog scene in 2014 when she was asked to step in at the very last minute as the festival’s co-presenter where, for the benefit of the non-Italian speaking members of the audience, she introduced the bands in English alongside her Italian speaking counterpart .

It was here that the seeds were sown for what was to become a lasting friendship with Swedish band, Änglagård and a working relationship with Italian band, Barock Project with whom, amongst other things, she collaborated as language consultant on their latest album, ‘Detachment’. The following year she was invited back to become the Festival’s sole presenter, introducing the bands in both Italian and English. It was at the 2015 edition of the festival that she met and subsequently ‘adopted’ Italian band Syncage, recently signed to Bad Elephant Music, with whom she works constantly as advisor and PR.

In 2016 she launched the festival’s official Facebook page and actively began promoting the festival and all participating bands on social media. “Being the festival’s presenter was a great privilege but it never felt quite right to just turn up on the day and walk on stage, so spreading the word and making sure the world knew what we were doing became an everyday challenge. It’s great to be part of the organization process, there’s an amazing team behind this Festival and I’m so incredibly proud to be a part of it”.

Earlier this year she began another working relationship with Italian band, Syndone, again thanks to her Festival work.
“The best thing about festivals is the people you meet, both musicians and members of the public. It’s quite an incredible community we operate in. It was at another festival, this year’s edition of RoSFest to be precise, that I met Mark Trueack.

We immediately hit it off as we discussed music, life and other things over a beverage purporting to be coffee in the hotel we were both staying at. Sometimes you just know when you’re on the same page as someone. Having said that I was still surprised when he invited me to become a part of the UPF project but hey, when you get asked to be part of something this exciting who am I to say no? I did hesitate for a moment but only a moment, on the whole I’m pretty impulsive so if it feels right, I tend to do it first and think about it second! I’m really looking forward to seeing where this will take us”.

Igor Khorovshev

Mixing and engineering

Igor Khoroshev was born in Moscow, Russia. He took piano lessons from age four and later learned other instruments including the trombone, French horn, guitar and drums. He obtained a diploma in music.

In the early 1990s, he moved to the USA, settling in Boston, where he worked with Benjamin Orr of The Cars among others. Khoroshev met Carl Jacobson of the Cakewalk software house. Jacobson employed Khoroshev, who composed music for Cakewalk's Pro Audio 9, and he also introduced Khoroshev to Yes's Jon Anderson.

Khoroshev released a solo album Piano Works in 1999. He appeared on the Emerson, Lake & Palmer tribute album Encores, Legends and Paradox. In March 2000, he and Jon Anderson worked on an album called True You, True Me. The album was estimated to be released in November of that year, with a tour as a duet in early 2001. This did not, however, come to fruition and the collaboration project was shelved.

Since leaving Yes, Khoroshev worked on film soundtracks, including "Good Night Valentino" and "The Pearl", and in a production role, often working with Mike Plotnikoff (e.g. With Shivering Hearts We Wait, 2011)

Steve Unruh

Violin, guitars, flute, vocals, producer, songwriter, co-production

Bands: Resistor, The Samurai of Prog, Marco Bernard’s Decamerson I, II, III, Voices of Babylon.

Steve says that he is proficient at: Drumkit, Percussion, Violin, Guitar, Mandolin, and getting pretty decent at Flute, Voice and Bass (now that’s an understatement!)

Favorite Albums

Progressive Rock:

Yes - Close to the Edge (This is officially my favorite album of all time in any genre.)
Yes - Tales from Topographic Oceans
Yes - Symphonic Live (Amsterdam, DVD)
The Flower Kings - Stardust We Are
The Flower Kings - Unfold the Future
Dream Theater - Scenes from a Memory
Dream Theater - "Score" (Live in New York, DVD)
Phideaux - Doomsday Afternoon
Porcupine Tree - Fear of a Blank Planet
Rush - A Farewell To Kings
Rush - Permanent Waves
King Crimson - Red
Gentle Giant - The Power And The Glory

Jazz:

John Coltrane - Giant Steps
John Coltrane - Crescent
John Coltrane - A Love Supreme
Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out
Glen Velez - Rhytmicolor ExoticaRock,

Pop:

U2 - The Joshua Tree
U2 - Achtung Baby
U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind
Indigo Girls - Indigo Girls
Indigo Girls - Despite Our Differences

New Age:

Bob Kindler - Tiger's Paw

Guy Manning

Songwriting, vocals, acoustic guitar

Guy formed his first band when he was still at school, bringing together members of the school orchestra and other more ‘basic’ musicians to play complex 20 minute epics! Sometime (much) later, Guy was the founding member of two Leeds (UK) based bands in the 1980s, “Let’s Eat!” and “Bailey’s Return”. He was also recruited in 1987 to be the keyboards player in art-rock band “Through the Looking Glass”. This band split up a year later and a more pop based offshoot, “KingGlass”, emerged and continued on for a further year (the other half of the original band got “Through the Loo” for their name).

Manning and local keyboardist/vocalist Andy Tillison joined forces in an early unsigned band called “Gold Frankincense & Disk Drive”. The band’s final line-up included a guest spot from “Van Der Graaf Generator” organ player, Hugh Banton.

Tillison and Manning recorded the album “No More Travelling Chess” at this time, which consisted of a set of covers of material by Peter Hammill plus a couple of original pieces. This album was first released as a mail order cassette item (before an augmented and remastered version was eventually released by Cyclops Records in 2001 under the band name of “Parallel or 90 Degrees”).

Tillison and Manning then formally formed the band, “Parallel or 90 Degrees” with Sam Baine also on keyboards, but Guy was soon to leave to work abroad.

Guy has gone on to write, record and release his own albums, the first five were on the Cyclops label and then three more, “A Matter Of Life & Death (The Journal of Abel Mann)”, “One Small Step…” and “Anser’s Tree”, for United States label, ProgRock Records.

The ProgRock Records album covers were all created by noted graphic arts designer, Ed Unitsky. Manning’s ninth release, “Songs From The Bilston House” (2007), was released on the Festival Music (F2) label as were the follow ups, the appropriately named “Number Ten” (2009), “Charlestown” (2012) and 2011’s “Margaret’s Children (which also featured a reprised/updated Ed Unitsky cover).

Andy Tillison has guested on several of the earlier releases, whilst other guests have included Martin Orford (IQ), Ian ‘Walter’ Fairbairn (Hedgehog Pie & Jack the Lad), Steve Dundon (Mick Abrahams Band & Molly Bloom), Angela Gordon (Mostly Autumn), Marek Arnold (Toxic Smile & Seven steps to the green door), Leon Camfield (Tinyfish), Phideaux, Chloe Herrington (Knifeworld, Chrome Hoof) and John Young (Lifesigns, Asia)

THE TANGENT

Whilst all this was happening, plans for a solo album by Andy Tillison transformed into the first release by “THE TANGENT”; the album was called “The Music That Died Alone” (2003). This initial ‘Tangent’ line-up included Guy Manning, Sam Baine plus Roine Stolt, Jonas Reingold and Zoltan Csorsz (from The Flower Kings) and David Jackson (from Van der Graaf Generator). Other subsequent ‘Tangent’ members have included Theo Travis, Jaime Salazar, Krister Jonsson, Jakko M. Jakszyk, Jonathan Barrett, Paul Burgess, Dan Mash, Tony Latham, Luke Machin, the entire “Beardfish” band and Michael Gilbourne.

Guy announced his formal departure from the “The Tangent” in May 2010. In all, Guy played on five studio and one live album with The Tangent (although he reprised this with a cameo role for 2013’s “Le Sacre Du Travail”)

OTHER STUFF

Manning and Tillison also had time to team up as fictional Italian band, ”La Voce Del Vento”, to provide two long pieces for the Colossus Project Discs (The Spaghetti Epics #1 and #2)
Manning also provided an unreleased track for KINECTIONS, the US ProgDay festival support album.
Manning’s “The Root, the Leaf & the Bone” was released to critical acclaim in October 2013, appearing in some ‘Top 10 album of the year’ polls.

MANNING – THE BAND(s)

In recent years, Guy has fronted his own band exclusively performing his music. The band has performed at ROSFEST in 2010, the Cambridge Rock Festival (twice), Summers’ End Festival (twice). The Manning band performs in two varieties, ELEKTRIK (the full symphonic rock band) and AKOUSTIK (a cut down more simple and ‘unplugged’ version). The AKOUSTIK band performs material from the AKOUSTIK albums releases (2013). In Jan 2014, Guy announced that MANNING (the band) would retire to allow him to carry on working with other people and to concentrate on other project writing and solo albums in the pipeline.

UNITED PROGRESSIVE FRATERNITY

Guy was subsequently asked to join the new band fronted by Mark ‘Truey’ Trueack – the United Progressive Fraternity. He developed and record material for the debut album “Fall In Love With The World”

DAMANEK

Following the UPF Promotional Tour in 2014, Guy settled down to write material for the next UPF album. Truey however was working in partnership with Steve Unruh at this time and had assembled an Australian based UPF band and the pieces presented for consideration at that time were felt to be not quite what was needed.

So, Guy decided to continue developing his new material for an new Project alongside his UPF friends Marek Arnold and Dan Mash (the UPF European arm!). Sean (Timms) was also asked to join the ensemble and the quartet, now named DAMANEK, started to record the eight pieces selected for the debut album “On Track”. DAMANEK performed most the new material live at Summer's End 2016 with the quartet augmented by Luke Machin on guitar and Henry Rogers on Drums. The band went down a storm!!!

“On Track” was finally released in May 2017 on the Giant Electric Pea label and has garnered fantastic reviews across the board . see www.damanek.com for details. Guy is currently writing the Damanek follow up album and also some new pieces for UPF#2 in collaboration with Truey!

Joe Toscano

Drums, vocals

From a very young age, Joe Toscano was beating on pots and pans in time while his father played the guitar. It seemed Joe was destined to become a drummer even back then. As an impressionable young boy, watching Animal on the Muppets and Kiss’ Peter Criss helped cement his decision and by the age of ten, Joe began taking formal drum lessons to develop his craft.

“I realised at that point that there was more to the art of drumming than just playing along in time,” said Joe. “A whole new world opened up to me, where I started to pay attention to music theory, syncopation and the different rhythmic aspects of playing. At the age of twelve, I remember my drum teacher loaned me a copy of Deep Purple’s California Jam concert on video and he told me to pay attention to Ian Paice and that really blew my mind!”

After years of being exposed to his Dad’s record collection, which included Jimi Hendrix, The Shadows and Black Sabbath, Joe’s love of music combined with his own curious nature led him to start broadening his listening tastes and he began to discover bands like Rush, Iron Maiden, Rainbow, Scorpions and Led Zeppelin.

By the late 80’s Joe was attending drum clinics held by the likes of virtuosos Simon Phillips, Dave Weckl and Virgil Donati (with whom Joe had a lesson) and this opened up his musical vocabulary even more as he started to become influenced by jazz, prog rock and world music.

Joe joined his first proper band Einstein’s Child (later The Childs) in 1990 playing covers around the local music scene in Adelaide. His first show with the band even included a tribute to Neil Peart’s famous Rhythm Method drum solo, much to the surprise of the modest audience! Later the band began writing original material and Joe went with them to Melbourne to record their first album at Sing Sing Studios, which was then mixed at John Farnham’s Gotham Studios. The band began receiving local radio airplay and had become a favourite on the Adelaide music circuit with high profile support slots for bands like The Angels, Joan Jett, The Divinyls, Tim Finn and Screaming Jets cementing their reputation.

Joe spread his wings in the mid to late 90’s by playing a mix of covers and original material with a number of other local rock bands in Adelaide such as Outshine, The Court Jesters and Sound. It was during this time period that Joe first met up and played with vocalist Mark Trueack in a fledgling progressive outfit that went on to become Pangea (and much later Unitopia).

In 2001, Joe was invited to join Adelaide metal band The Loving Tongue, with whom he recorded “Shadows of Innocence” (2009) and “Temple of Love” (2012). It was through The Loving Tongue that led Joe to join Metal Blade act Raven Black Night, with whom he recorded “Choose The Dark” (2004) and “Barbarian Winter” (2013).

“It’s funny how sometimes things come full circle” said Joe about reconnecting with Mark Truack in United Progressive Fraternity. After a number of years playing covers in Adelaide pubs with various outfits, Joe and long time friend and bass player Mark Franco reconnected with Mark Trueack who was scouting for talented musicians to join his prog rock collective. Joe said “I’ve always really loved prog rock. It gives musicians an opportunity to stretch out and try new things. I’m really excited about putting myself into United Progressive Fraternity and giving it my best. Plus, it’s great to be a part of a band that has an important lyrical message too. The concepts that Mark has written are vital issues that really speak to us all. It’s also exciting to be recording with other talented players such as Guy Manning and Steve Unruh not to mention prog heavyweights such as Steve Hackett and Jon Anderson, who have long been heroes of mine”.

Tim Irrgang

Tuned and un-tuned percussion

Tim Irrgang began studying drums in 1986, and tuned percussion in 1992. He completed his Bachelor of Music (Hons) in 1996. During this time he gained valuable experience playing in the Adelaide University Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Big Band,The Adelaide Connection (jazz vocal group), and The Elder Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra. In 96 he spent a month at ISSU University, Yogyarkata, Indonesia, with fellow Adelaide percussionists on a cultural exchange.

While at University, Tim & fellow students formed a quartet called ‘The Rhythm Works’. They played at the 98 Fringe Festival, performed live on radio and TV, were actively involved in the ASME National Conference in 2001, and were part of the Musica Viva in Schools programme until 2017. In 2006 they toured Australia and Singapore.

In December 1999 Tim travelled to South Africa with the Australian Aboriginal Jazz Connection – Warkala, to perform at WOMAD – Living Treasures Festival in Durban, as well as The Standard Bank Jazz Festival in Mamelodi & also performances in Pretoria and Johannesburg. The tour also included performances with some of the local artists.

As part of the Hormingo Ensemble, Tim was involved in the Elder Conservatorium Evening and Lunchtime Concert series, Sunday Salon at the Festival Theatre and the Bundaleer Forest Music Festival. They were the first group to be part of the Musica Viva, Menage Series. In 2001 they travelled to Malaysia with state trade delegates to provide entertainment for official functions held in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Tim has played with The Adelaide Symphony Orchestra as part of the Adelaide Festival of the Arts with their Symphony “Under the Stars” in 2004. Further work followed, including The Australian Ballet, The Zep Boys ‘Led Zeppelin Tribute’ and The ASO’s Masters Series. He continues to work with the orchestra on a casual basis.

Tim has also had the opportunity to perform with The South Australian Police Band, Etype jazz, Lucifer’s Lounge, Cathie Renner, J.C. Jazz, The Australian Girls Choir, Orianthi, Boogiemen, Flat on your Bacherach, Akhter Jahan, and Rataque. Events include the Glenelg Jazz Festival, Adelaide Fringe, Cabaret & Arts Festivals, Bundaleer Forest Music Festival, Come Out Festival, Tour Down Under, Tasting Australia, and WOMADelaide. In 2005 Tim was adjudicator for percussion competitions at the National Band Championships, and performed for Cirque Du Soleil ‘Quidam’ for the majority of the Adelaide season.

In 2012 Tim spent 3 months working for The Royal Guard of Oman. This included directing a 70+ piece drum corps and teaching on the palace grounds at the ROSO (Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra) Music School, which His Majesty Sultan Qaboos set up for children to study, with a focus on music.

Tim regularly performed on both drum kit and percussion with numerous groups including Unitopia, The Liars Bench, Fig Jam, The Bob Johnson Big Band, TWIT (Thompson, Whitney, Irrgang Trio) and Taylor Made - a James Taylor tribute show that Sean Timms is also a member.

Currently Tim is a member of UPF and the Raiders Drum Corps, and performs with Kelly Menhennett and occasionally with Laura Hill. Performances with Kelly Menhennett include Coonawarra Arts Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Semaphore Music Festival and WOMADeldaide.

Up until May 2017 Tim also tutored privately and at some of Adelaide’s leading colleges, and has also been employed by Adelaide University to tutor in the Diploma of Education (percussion workshops) and CASM (Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music). He ran the only steelband in South Australia at one of the schools he taught at, and directed 7 ensembles including Concert Bands and Percussion Ensembles.

At the end of May 2017 Tim had a career change and is currently working as a Security Officer after a 9 week training course. He runs his own percussion hire business, and when time allows, enjoys running, mountain biking and other physical activities.

Raf Azaria

Piano, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Violin, Mandolin, Accordian

A man who speaks the language of music! He not only plays but has mastered instruments including Piano, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Violin, Mandolin and the Accordian. His ability and music intellegence is like none other!

Raf holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Adelaide. He is a highly experienced musician and has over 30 years of teaching and playing music.

Some Highlights of his Career include:

Teaching Orianthi who went on to play for the one and only Michael Jackson
Taught at numerous schools, colleges and Tafe SA
Recorded full length original CD in Sydney entitled 'State of Reality'
Winning 1st prize in Battle of the Bands in 2001 with his song 'Do You Believe In Him'
Qantas Corporate show
Hyatt Regency, Stamford Grand Glenelg, Hotel Adelaide, Arkaba
Special Guest appearance for Adelaide 36ers
Opening for the New Parliament House Camberra with the German Choir
Numerous festivals, pubs and clubs interstate and overseas.
Performed extensively with numerous bands. Tours around Melbourne and Sydney including The Felix Bar St Kilda and Kardomah Club in Sydneys Kings Cross
Corner Hotel in Richmond
Numerous wedding appearances
Has played for Bowen Family Funerals
Produced music for a film documentary soundtrack
Produced music for local Adelaide musicians
Produced music for commercial jingles.
A Session Muso with airplay on Nova 91.9

Guest Artists

Lisa Wetton

Drums, background vocals, UPF Choir

Lisa grew up surrounded by music, having an opera singing mum and a professional jazz drumming dad. She was never too far from a piano or drum kit, and was most profoundly influenced by her father's passion for World music. Her first love was drums, after watching Nigerian drummer, Baba Olatunji on a TV special at the age of 8. Attending Potsdam College in the 1980's, she was able to work with many of the talented music students at the renowned Crane School of Music, singing in various bands for pocket money and studying studio recording technique. It wasn't until 1997 when she decided to take formal drum lessons and, whilst studying for her Medical Boards, bought her first drum kit, a Gretsch 4 piece jazz kit.

Since then, and many drum kits later, she continues to practice medicine, sing, and play as a sessions musician with groups in the U.S., most notably as the touring drummer/percussionist for progressive rock group, Edison's Children. She has performed with West African drum troop, Adanfo, and studied Middle Eastern hand drumming and Latin percussion. She most recently performed with Bowie guitarist, Earl Slick and Rolling Stones vocalist, Bernard Fowler. She is a regular as part of an ensemble group of Central New York's most talented musicians at The Ridge Tribute Tuesdays. She runs progressive music agency, SmokeWind Music and Productions.

Though her music influences are vast, and change from week to week, a few of them include Peter Gabriel, King Crimson, UK, Bill Bruford, Gavin Harrison, Nina Simone, and Oliver Mtukudzi.

Many more guest artists to follow

Check back soon!

Nick Magnus

Keyboards

Composer, keyboard player and producer Nick Magnus is best known for his work with ex-Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett from 1978 to 1989, providing his keyboard talents to at least twelve of Hackett’s albums to date, as well as extensively touring Europe, the UK and the US.

Nick started his musical career in early 1976 with the cult symphonic rock ensemble, The Enid. At the end of that year, he and drummer Robbie Dobson left The Enid to spend two years with the progressive rock band Autumn. On February 15th, 1999 Autumn release a Mini CD of their material originally recorded 23 years ago, entitled Oceanworld.

He has released four previous solo albums of his own compositions: ‘Straight On Till Morning’ (1994), ‘Inhaling Green’ (1999), ‘Hexameron’ (2004) and ‘Children Of Another God’ (2010). A live album with John Hackett was released in March 2011. Nick’s fifth solo album ‘N’monix’ is scheduled for release on April 28th 2014.

The latter half of the 80’s was spent doing session work with many diverse recording artistes such as China Crisis, Renaissance, George Martin, Mungo Jerry, Johhny Mars, Cilla Black, Jose Carrerras, Brian May, Richie Havens, Bonnie Tyler, Mike Batt, Classix Nouveaux, David Essex, Pete Bardens (Camel), Duncan Browne, Chris Rea, and Colin Blunstone.

The 1990s saw album chart successes for Nick’s co-productions of the Project D Synthesiser albums. He also achieved platinum sales for his productions and arrangements for the internationally acclaimed series of Pan Pipe Moods albums, released by Polygram records.

Further productions include two albums by Celtic Spirit : Celtic Dreams and Celtic Dreams 2, both of which have enjoyed international success. ‘Is That Your Final Answer?’ was Nick’s 2000 dance remix version of music from the smash-hit TV gameshow ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’. Subsequently in 2007, he was commissioned to produce an ‘energised’ re-recording of the theme music for ‘Millionaire’ which is currently being broadcast on the show in the UK. Throughout the summer of 2001 audiences applauded the new arrangements of Lennon and McCartney songs Nick contributed to the West End musical, ‘All You Need is Love’.

As well as a varied history as a composer, producer and arranger, Nick also penned the soundtrack to the cult horror movie “Bloody New Year”, directed by Norman J Warren (Inseminoid, Terror, Satan’s Slave, Prey). As a result of contributing to numerous other works for film, TV and radio, Nick has since gained much experience in working with music to picture.

He has also delivered lectures and seminars on many aspects of music technology and music production, whilst also writing diverse articles on these subjects for the music press.

Nick will be a guest musician, playing keys on one of the tracks for United Progessive Fraternity on the upcoming album “Planetary Overload”.

(from http://www.magnus-music.com/biography.htm)