We've had a fair few reviews of the album - with more coming in - and we have to say that they're uniformly positive. Some indeed are gushing which is really nice! Here are a few links...

• Live Prog
• DPRP
• LSMedia
• Harmonic Lizard
• Baby Blaue [German]
• Music In Belgium [French]

Lots of people have been posting photos of us to Facebook and Flickr. These are so good that they make us look like rock stars!

Here are a few links... (alphabetical by photographer..)

Tim Ellis - Summer's End
Bo Hansen - Summer's End
Neil Palfreyman, Summer's End

Tim Ellis - The Robin 2, Bilston

Paul Davies, Maltby

And of course you can always check out the photo sets and streams on Facebook and the Ark Appreciation Pages as well as our photo pages here... (which have been updated too!!)
(Facebook feeds may require registration to view)

JJ has been bubbling to the press again!
We've a 3 page feature in 'Classic Rock Presents.. Prog' this month. Lots of pics!
Go buy it!

Unfortunately we recently received the news from Kurdt Vanderhoof of Presto Ballet that the band will not now be able to come to the UK in September. This is due to the sudden departure of their lead singer, which has had a knock on effect on the recording schedule for their new album. A replacement has been found and the band are getting back on track, but they have had to delay plans to visit the UK until next year. We hope to bring you news of new dates with Presto Ballet in due course.

As a result, and after discussion with the CRS, we have decided not to go ahead with the proposed gigs at Norwich on 1st September, Swindon on 2nd September, and London on 3rd September. The shows at Maltby and Bilston on 4th and 5th September will go ahead with arK, as planned, and support for these shows will now be provided by Dec Burke's 'Destroy All Monsters'.

(yay!)

Tickets for Maltby are available from the Classic Rock Society by phone on 01327 310088 and online at http://www.classicrocksociety.co.uk/ Tickets for Bilston are available from http://www.therobin.co.uk/

arK, the band led by John Jowitt, bass guitarist best known for his work with UK progressive bands IQ, Arena and Frost*, will be joining legendary US progressive rockers Presto Ballet (Kurdt Vanderhoof) for a series of UK dates in September 2010 in the run up to the release of their album, Wild Untamed Imaginings.

Weds, 1st September: The Brickmakers, Norwich

Thurs, 2nd September: The 12 Bar, Swindon

Fri, 3rd September: The Luminaire, Kilburn High Rd, London

Sat, 4th September: The Wesley Centre, Maltby, Rotherham

Sun, 5th September: The Robin 2, Bilston, West Midlands

A full press release can be read here

Don't forget you can listen to exclusive previews of the tracks from the forthcoming album 'Wild Untamed Imaginings' at the ProgRock records, and go on to pre-order the record online

Audio clips can be found here

'Wild Untamed Imaginings', the forthcoming album from arK - the English Progressive Rock band led by John Jowitt (iQ, Arena and Frost*) - is now available for preorder from Prog Rock Records.

The album, comprises 11 tracks: Boudicca's Chariot; Coats of Red; Flagday; New Scientist; Hagley; Gaia; Eighth Deadly Sin; Change pt2; So You Finally Made It; Kaleidoscope; Nowhere's Ark

A full press release can be read here

So we finally came to an agreement on the photo montage of the band. Let me say this was agonised over by a bunch of preening wusses complaining that it didn't capture their best angle or that they couldn't possibly still have that many spots...

But common sense prevailed in the end and here's the results.

At last - the Kyle Fish ident! Comes with a sneak peek of Boudicca's Chariot....

Enjoy

The arKieboys have finished the final tracks for their forthcoming album 'Wild Untamed Imaginings' and are finalising the mix before sending the masters off to Prog Rock Records for printing and distribution.

Steve said: "This is the best these songs have ever sounded... better than it's ever sounded in my head"

arK have been treated to a lovely retrospective on the Birmingham Roundabout. The article takes a look at the band's early career from entry to the Edward's rock band competition to disbandment and includes several excellent anecdotes!

Welcome to our brand spanking new web site, lovingly crafted by elves secreted in the darker parts of the Black Country! Have a look round, get acquainted, and be sure to bookmark this page, as we will be developing the site as the band grows. Lots of stuff to come, including details of the songs and artwork for our new album, Wild Untamed Imaginings, together with gig plans and further releases. We'll be adding a shop as well as a forum and links to the past as well as the future. Don't be a stranger!"

The first recordings by the reformed arK take the form of new takes on old favourites, some re-recorded in a new guise and some recorded here for the first time. Wild Untamed Imaginings is a phrase taken from Eighth Deadly Sin, one of the re-recorded tracks, and aptly reflects the story based concepts of arK's music.

"The songs are sounding like they should have sounded, and the musicianship is a cut above" says John Jowitt.

The album will be produced by arK and Mark Westwood, mixed by Mark Westwood, released on American label Prog Rock Records, and will be available at the beginning of September 2010.

The artwork for the album cover and new logo have been designed by renowned Spanish artist Antonio Seijas. Seijas, a native of Ares, Spain, graduated in Art from the University of Santiago de Compostela. He first contributed artwork for an album in 2005 for Norwegian rock band, Gazpacho (Firebird). Gazpacho were so enthused with his work that in 2007, they invited him to provide all the artwork for their 2007 release 'Night' and again for 2009's 'Tick Tock'

Seijas has also provided the artwork for Marillion's double album 'Happiness is the Road', including the deluxe edition, with two booklets of almost 100 pages of illustrations. He has also has worked on the Steve Rothery and Hannah Stobart project 'The Wishing Tree' and their album 'Ostara'. He recently completed artwork for the Harvest debut album 'Underground community'.

Seijas' artwork for Marillion's 'Happiness is the Road' took the 1st place in the Dutch Progressive Rock Poll 2008 awards, while artwork for 'Night' was took 5th place in 2007 and artwork for Gazpacho's 'Tick Tock' was once again placed 5th in 2009.

"The quality of [Seijas'] work, (is) based on the search for balanced composition working in-depth with color and atmosphere, combining the strength and serenity characteristic of surrealism..." Caderno de Art, interea 1, 2008

Call back soon for a song list from the album, together with more examples of Antonio's artwork for the album.

arK on Prog Rock Records

arK will be playing with Frost* at the following gigs:

Fri 3rd December: o2 Academy, Islington

Sat 4th December: Academy 3, Manchester

Sun 5th December: The Robin2, Bilston

Says Jowitt "We're delighted to be doing these dates with my old Frost*y playmates and looking forward to introducing arK to some friends old & new.

ArK will be supporting Frost*, the band led by Jem Godfrey. Joining Jem for the tour will be John Mitchell (guitar: It Bites, Kino John Wetton, Arena), Nathan King (bass: Level 42, It Bites), and featuring Andy Edwards on drums (Robert Plant, iQ, Ian Parker Band).

Bilston launch gig

A homecoming gig to celebrate the release of the new album from the reformed arK will take place on the 5th September at the Robin 2 in Bilston. Tell your mother.

Support to be announced. Tickets now available, a mere £10 in advance from: http://www.therobin.co.uk/whats_on/giginfo.asp?gigid=2276

The first show for the reformed arK has been announced, and it will be at the Summer's End Festival in Lydney, on October 9th. Other bands so far announced are Godfrey/Mitchell, Agents of Mercy, Karmakanic, Phideaux, The Watch and Unitopia. More at:

http://www.myspace.com/summersendfestival

They're back! The 2010 incarnation of arK features original members Tony Short on vocals and flute, Pete Wheatley - lead guitar , Steve Harris - guitar synth, John Jowitt on bass, and new member Tim Churchman, formerly of Darwin's Radio, on drums. As well as a re-recording of older material, plans include an album of new songs and gigs far and wide.

More on the handsome, dashing Tim Churchman at http://www.darwinsradio.co.uk

More soon..!