Brian Chartrand’s music career has taken off since he moved from rural Massachusetts to Phoenix, AZ in October 2003. Since that time, he has performed to audiences large and small throughout the United States and Europe (in April 2013, Brian completed his fourth European Tour which lasted three weeks and took him through 4 countries). He’s performed his songs on a luxury cruise ship in Europe during the Summer of 2012. He has recorded 11 albums, both studio and live, with his various musical projects. He’s worked with amazing producers: Andy Zulla (Rod Stewart, Kelly Clarkson), Iestyn Polson (David Grey), and Clarke Rigsby (Paul McCartney, Glen Campbell, Tower of Power). He also has his music placed in television ad campaigns and in retail outlets.

Brian released “Worth The Fight” in May 2014. With 14 original tracks, its his finest accomplishment yet. Check it out!

Brian’s solo acoustic career is evolving. With two original releases already under his belt (“Sleeping With Giants” 2008 and “Out of the Ether” 2008), his latest album “La Belle Époque” (April 2012) is a 5-song EP of acoustic interpretations of some of his favorite songs from the 80s. In it you will find songs by Don Henley, Sting, Terrence Trent D’Arby, INXS and Peter Gabriel. This is truly a “self released” record as he assumed the responsibility of producer, engineer, and performer. These songs were all recorded in his modest home studio in downtown Phoenix. He enlisted the help of some of Phoenix’s best musicians: Todd Chuba, Mario Mendivil, Adam Armijo, and Mike Florio. Don’t bother listening, just buy the record here.

Released in October of 2011, Brian Chartrand & The Voce Project, is his first studio album recorded with famed producer Clarke Rigsby at Tempest Recording Studio in Tempe, AZ. The band Brian assembled for this project is a “who’s who” in the PHX music scene: Mike Florio (drums), Mel Brown (bass), Todd Chuba (percussion), Adam Armijo (electric guitar), and Lamar Gaines (keys), Khani Cole (vocals). This record is his “Aja”: expansive, groovy, and cerebral. Listen/download here.

“(The Voce Project) is outstanding in every way: songwriting, execution, sonically, packaging, etc. Congratulations!”– Bob Corritore, owner of legendary live music venue, The Rhythm Room in Phoenix, AZ and host of “Those Lowdown Blues” on KJZZ 91.5 FM The Sweet Remains, Brian’s other main focus, released it’s debut album “Laurel & Sunset” in 2009. Their single “What I’m Looking For” was featured twice in a nationwide advertising campaign for Subaru. The single “Easy” was recognized by the famed New York Song Circle songwriting competition. Their single “Dance With Me” is featured on the Putumayo compilation Acoustic Cafe. TSR just released their “in the round” live CD/DVD from their residency at The Canal Room in New York City. Their sophomore studio release “North & Prospect,” released in early 2013, was highlighted in USA TODAY as their pick of the week in early March. Listen here! 

Since it’s inception in 2005, Ten Dollar Outfit has independently released 6 albums, and continues to help define the music scene in Phoenix, Arizona. Voted “Best Jam Band” by The Phoenix New Times, Ten Dollar Outfit has shared the stage with some amazing acts including; Steely Dan, The Flaming Lips, Matisyahu, Railroad Earth, and The Young Dubliners.

“Framework” is the anticipated third album from the Swedish trio WORK OF ART. A release which has been in the works for more than one year and a half, but finally gets unleashed to the hungry legions of fans that this band has been able to build after just 2 albums.

WORK OF ART debuted in February 2008 with the release of “Artwork”. Coming out of nowhere, the album immediately struck a chord with Melodic Rock lovers all around the world. With a sound inspired by such band as Toto, Giant & Journey, WORK OF ART quickly established themselves as one of the most promising newcomers in the genre. Soon after WOA guitar player and main composer Robert Sall joined W.E.T, the band project with Jeff Scott Soto and Erik Martensson from Eclipse, thus being immediately catapulted in the stardom of the genre!

As a consequence of this, expectations for the follow up “In Progress” were sky high. Work of Art managed to live up to that, entering the Swedish album charts on the week of release at number 30! The next step for the band was to start performing live on stage which they did for the first time in Madrid, Spain in January 2012 and was followed by several other shows in several other European countries.

“Framework” is therefore the logical next step: an album which encompasses all that Work of Art managed to create until now, offering another bunch of unforgettable songs with soaring melodies (courtesy of singer Lars Säfsund) and amazing instrumental prowess (offered by Robert and Herman). Overall this is certainly Work of Art’s most up-tempo and straight ahead album so far, but – as it should be – some unbelievable softer moments are there as well!

Get WORK OF ART live in action during the fall in Europe and the USA (Melodicrock Fest in Chicago)!

Like old black water that keeps on rolling, details have been leaking about Southbound, an upcoming album that pairs the Doobie Brothers with some of country music’s biggest acts. We finally know what songs Sara Evans, Brad Paisley, Blake Shelton, Zac Brown Band and the other country collaborators will be performing, as Rolling Stone Country has the exclusive reveal of the album’s track list, along with its album art.

Read more!

Mascot Label Group and Flying Colors have announced an October 3 release date in Australia for the band's SECOND NATURE album via the Music Theories Recordings label, part of the Mascot Label Group.

The album will be distributed locally by Warner. Teaming the talents of such heavyweight names as guitarist Steve Morse (Deep Purple/Dixie Dregs/ex-Kansas), drummer Mike Portnoy (Transatlantic, Winery Dogs, ex-Dream Theater), Neal Morse (Transatlantic, Spock’s Beard and a prolific solo artist), bass player Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and more) with a comparatively new talent, pop singer/songwriter Casey McPherson, the band challenged conventional wisdom about combining virtuoso music and melodic songwriting.  

The critics were united in acknowledging the eponymously titled debut album from Flying Colors as among the most fascinating releases of 2012. The UK’s Classic Rock magazine hailed the band’s debut as “fearless”, praising its “Journey-sized choruses” and referencing artists as diverse as The Beatles, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Doors, Muse and even Frank Sinatra.   

Sporting stunning artwork from the legendary designer Hugh Syme (Rush, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, Whitesnake) and bookended by two tracks of truly epic stature – ‘Open Up Your Eyes’ and the multiple-part ‘Cosmic Symphony’ – the album is every bit as breathtaking as the debut.

Flying Colors will be touring the US, Europe and the UK from October 2014.  No dates are currently scheduled for Australia, but we’re a country that the band would love to get to. With recent tours announced here by fellow prog rockers YES and Jethro Tull’s IAN ANDERSON, and PINK FLOYD also announcing their first album in 20 years, perhaps the time has arrived for prog-rock to enjoy something of a resurgence down-under.  

State of Salazar sound is influenced by such greats as Toto, Queen, Journey and Survivor but with these guys, everything is musically possible!

The song “All the Way” is also available now – together with the other awesome album track “Eat Your Heart Out” - as instant gratification track for all those who preorder the album now via iTunes. The two songs can also be streamed via Spotify. 

STATE OF SALAZAR came to the attention of Frontiers A&R dept after the release of their debut EP ”Lost my Way” in the summer of 2012. Reviews spread fast in magazines and blogs and created a flood of praise from all over the world during a very short period: “This is something that can grow really big.” “...State Of Salazar will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of the genre.” “…this EP is an extremely polished piece of art...” “The performances and the production are superb…” 



STATE OF SALAZAR had their live debut at the Frontiers Rock Festival last May in Milan where they took the audience by surprise with their “feel good” Melodic Rock music !



STATE OF SALAZAR are Marcus Nygren, vocals, Johan Thuresson, guitars, Johannes Hansson, bass, Kristian Brun, drums and Stefan Mårtenson, keyboards.


We are thrilled and honored to learn that John Cowan‘s upcoming new album Sixty (due August 26) was the most added new album last week on the Americana Music Association’s radio chart. Working with Doobie Brothers bandmate John McFee, who expertly helms the producer’s chair, Cowan has assembled an impressive list of guest artists (friends), including Leon Russell, Alison Krauss, Rodney Crowell, Bonnie Bramlett, Jim Messina, Huey Lewis, Ray Benson, John Jorgenson, Chris Hillman, Andrea Zonn, Sam Bush and others on the way to creating what is shaping up to be a cross-genre musical celebration of his 35+ year career.

John Cowan, universally known as “The Voice of Newgrass,” has been singing his heart out for the past 35+ years. As a member of New Grass Revival, he helped create a sound which brought a new audience to the bluegrass music and was arguably as important in shaping the direction of modern bluegrass as Flatt and Scruggs was to the genre in the 1960s. After New Grass Revival disbanded in 1990, Cowan went on to record a series of critically acclaimed solo albums and to lend his unique vocals as a session musician to a lengthy discography including albums by Garth Brooks, Glen Campbell, Steve Earle, Rodney Crowell, Janis Ian, Delbert McClinton, Darius Rucker, Kenny Rogers and Poco.

Currently, Cowan divides his time on the road between solo tours with the John Cowan Band and as a touring member of the Doobie Brothers, with whom he has been performing regularly since 2010.

Jack Wagner’s new CD “One the Porch” is officially avialable for order on shopify. You can order the CD Directly by following the following link: Click Here to Order

Jimi Jamison has died from a heart attack at the age of just 63. When I heard that Jimi had passed away, it totally broke my heart. As many of you, I grew up listening to this incredible vocals with the band Survivor and solo efforts. Melodic rock fans all over the world will miss him. He was an incredible singer and for those who knew him a man of heart with a big sense of humor. RIP Jimi.

Arnaud

Messages from his closest friends at melodicrock.com