Oxfordshire Neil Peart charity show Prog For Peart set for July

A portrait of Neil Peart with his drums
(Image credit: Clayton Call / Getty Images)

Solstice, The Far Meadow, 25 Yard Screamer, This Winter Machine, Rain, warmrain, The Paradox Twin, IT and Hats Off Gentlemen, It's Adequate are among the bands on the bill for a Neil Peart tribute concert, Prog For Peart, which will raise money to combat Glioblastoma Multiforme; the killer disease that claimed the life of the Rush drummer.

Prog For Peart is two concerts each featuring eight prog bands held on two days to be held at The Northcourt, a 200 capacity venue in Abingdon, Oxfordshire on Friday 2nd July and Saturday 3rd July starting at midday on both days and running through until midnight.

“I've been a Rush fan since the late 70s and 2112," explains organiser Mark Cunningham. “I decided, I can't let this pass without doing something and I had already booked the Bravado lads, who are a terrific three-piece Rush tribute band, for that July so they were my first port of call and asked them how they'd feel about turning it into a charity event.

“With a bit more time on my hands than I usually do, I decided to email a few of the bands I really like in the current generation of 'progsters'. Before I knew it, what was going to be three or four bands turned into a full day and the interest was still there. So, I took the gamble and here we are now with two gigs each with eight fabulous bands. Those that are busy have agreed to participate by sending something for the memorabilia auction we will have on the Saturday.Again all funds going to Headcase Cancer Trust. We've also got stalls selling records & CDs, food. There's going to be prog and rock karaoke in the lounge bar at a quid a go with that too going to Headcase and through them to NTU's research program.”

“I am genuinely humbled by the interest and determination of the bands to contribute and also from the public too who seem to have held Neil in as much affection as I do myself. It's wonderful to see the whole prog community come together like this when you consider what's going on out there right now. Really inspiring.”

Tickets are priced at £33.23 for each day with weekend tickets at £49.75.

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Prog For Peart

(Image credit: Prog For Peart)
Jerry Ewing

Writer and broadcaster Jerry Ewing is the Editor of Prog Magazine which he founded for Future Publishing in 2009. He grew up in Sydney and began his writing career in London for Metal Forces magazine in 1989. He has since written for Metal Hammer, Maxim, Vox, Stuff and Bizarre magazines, among others. He created and edited Classic Rock Magazine for Dennis Publishing in 1998 and is the author of a variety of books on both music and sport, including Wonderous Stories; A Journey Through The Landscape Of Progressive Rock.