Virtual ProgDay 2020 Update
and 501(c)(3) Status.

(August 5, 2020)

ProgDay is happy to announce that we are currently pulling together a virtual event for this year. The idea is to present streaming performances from 4 artists a day over the Saturday and Sunday of the originally scheduled ProgDay weekend (September 5 and 6). Once the lineup and scheduling are worked out, details and instructions will be posted on the ProgDay website.

Virtual ProgDay 2020 is being greatly facilitated by Tom Palmieri and Ann Rinaldi of ProgStock (http://www.progstock.com/2020/). On Saturday, August 1, ProgStock kicked off the ProgStock Presents Virtual Series, a series of weekly shows streamed online through StageIt.com. After reading of ProgDay’s cancellation, Tom and Ann reached out to ProgDay and invited us to partner with them for our virtual event. The result is that Virtual ProgDay 2020 will be presented on Labor Day weekend as part of the ProgStock Presents Virtual Series.

Please note that ProgStock is not getting anything for this. All funds that are raised will go to ProgDay and the bands that perform.

Thank you Tom and Ann!

We are also excited to announce that ProgDay is now a tax-exempt non-profit event.

In 2017, Musical Arts Progressive Society, Inc. (MAPS), was formed. MAPS is a non-profit organization which advocates for, educates about and promotes national and international musical artists creating progressive and innovative music. MAPS recently received its confirmation as a 501(c)(3) company. Donations to MAPS / ProgDay are now tax deductible.

ProgDay 2020 Update.

(July 14, 2020)

It is with great sadness and disappointment that we must announce that for the first time since its inception in 1995, there will be no ProgDay this year.

We have been postponing this decision in the hope that the situation with Covid-19 in North Carolina would improve. But unfortunately that hasn’t been the case.

This last week North Carolina set a new daily record for new confirmed coronavirus cases. Cases increased 31.8% in the first 14 days of July compared to the last 14 days in June. The state also set a new record for hospitalizations and a new record for single day deaths. Phase Two of reopening was to end on July 17. Today Governor Cooper extended Phase Two for another 3 weeks.

Another basic consideration is that a gathering the size of ProgDay is illegal (the current maximum allowed for outdoor gatherings is 25 people). There is absolutely no guarantee that the permissible crowd size will be increased sufficiently by Labor Day to accommodate the festival.

Under these circumstances, we feel that proceeding with this year’s event would not be in the best interests of our family of attendees, patrons, vendors and staff.

However, we understand that for many of our attendees ProgDay is not just another festival, but something special that they look forward to every year. For that reason, to mark the occasion, we are considering the possibility of doing something online over Labor Day weekend. Whether that will be possible, or what form it might take, is still to be determined. An update about this will be posted on the website at some point in the future as more information becomes available and decisions are made.

Our best wishes for your continued well-being and safety.

Michael Bennett

Stop Motion Orchestra at ProgDay!

(January 21, 2020)

"Instant Everything!…impressively shows how you can creatively refresh a synthesis of Canterbury and Avant prog and add numerous influences.”
- Babyblaue Prog

“Lightworks…is nothing short of a masterpiece which cannot be described properly in words. So, those who enjoy intricate, intellectual, yet entertaining cross-genre instrumental music should try the album for sure. Let me say my 'Bravos' to this incredible ensemble!”
- Raigor, PROGARCHIVES

STOP MOTION ORCHESTRA is an ensemble of seasoned musicians from Austin’s progressive and experimental music scenes. Mixing influences ranging from Henry Cow, Cardiacs, Haniwa-Chan and Picchio Dal Pozzo, to traditional music from Eastern Europe and South Asia, they play “highly harmonically based, rhythmically interesting and through-composed music that’s a pleasure to listen to…” (Chris Cutler). Formed in 2013, the band has released two highly acclaimed albums.