PROGFEST Q&A: Glass Empire

Progfest '14 commenced in Brisbane last week, with the event hitting Melbourne this Saturday before continuing to Sydney and Adelaide in September.

Killyourstereo.com along with Welkin Entertainment present the annual festival.

In the lead-up, we ask artists a series of quick fire questions. We continue with Melbourne’s Glass Empire.

What bands are you looking forward to seeing at Progfest?

Our friends in Cat Or Pillar and Bear The Mammoth, both always deliver a set full of “spine shiver” moments.

I’m keen for Sam and Zac from Caligula’s Horse to make me feel like I can barely play guitar again for the second time this year (laughs). And of course, Closure! Pink Lemonade has been twisting my mind for the past couple of weeks.

Why should an attendee check out your band during the evening?

We’re currently working on a very promising cover of Yoko Ono’s “wailing to a room full of art toffs for five minutes”. We’ll be playing a couple of new songs off our upcoming second EP, so there’ll be a sneak peek as to what we’ve been working on these past couple of months!

How important is an event like Progfest to the local scene?

It’s a much needed outlet for this country’s up and coming prog acts, a real chance to get a lot great bands together who think outside the square and showcase them to a large audience. It can sometimes be hard reaching ears if your music isn’t presented in a simple straightforward way, so this festival definitely fills a need and I’m stoked to be playing it again.

What is your all-time favourite “prog” album?

“Kylie”…No, I think “Sound Awake” gets that one for me.

If you could cover any classic “prog” song, what would it be?

Shine On You Crazy Diamond I-V

What’s the essential attire for an event like Progfest?

Any Brokencyde merch you may own

Pink Floyd or Rush?

Floyd

Genesis or Yes?

Meshuggah

Tool or Dream Theater?

Maynard