Looking at the local concert lineup over the next few months, it’s great to see so many artists with progressive leanings coming to San Diego! From PROG Metal to PROG Pop, the opportunity to see some great performances is at our doorstep. Looking back, I can’t think of or remember this large number of concerts from so many creative musicians over such a short period of time!
With the decades-long debate over what artist or band is or is not PROG and what elements of a song qualify it as being PROG or not, it really boils down to this… Does it stimulate the mind more than other non-challenging or less creative art forms or music? Has the artist pushed the musical boundaries, progressed within the genre, and mastered their craft? Did the artist invent or create something that never existed before them, such as a new genre, art form, instrument, or way of thinking or performing?
ProgJect* w/ Travis Larson
Thur July 10th
California Center for the Arts, Escondido
PROG ROCK – Third visit to San Diego in four years from these international touring and recording artists who typically play over 2+ hours of classic and epic PROG ROCK. Formed by drummer Jonathan Mover (Satriani, Marillion, GTR with Steve Hackett and Steve Howe). The Band includes a cast of musicians from the PROG world such as Ryo Okumoto (Spock’s Beard, Asia) and featuring local homegrown talent and Frank Zappa Stunt Guitarist Mike Keneally (Zappa, Satriani, Vai, Devin Townsend, Extreme CREAM). Earlier this year they worked with Bill Bruford at selected East Coast shows. Rumor has it in 2026, select shows on BOTH coasts will feature an ‘A’ list guest artist from the world of PROG ROCK, someone that is featured toward the end of this story!
California Guitar Trio
Sat July 12th
Museum of Making Music, Carlsbad
INSTRUMENTAL PROG – Bert Lams, Paul Richards and local San Diego Chapman Stick guru Tom Griesgraber comprise CGT and often include an innovative reworking of Pink Floyd’s song Echoes into their set. CGT has recorded and toured with Tony Levin (King Crimson, Peter Gabriel) and played over 130 shows opening for King Crimson with the aim of expanding the potential of acoustic guitars played in the New Standard Tuning (NST) introduced by Robert Fripp on Guitar Craft courses.
Show up a few hours before the Museum of Making Music’s 5pm closing time to visit and see on display several well curated instruments. Among them a Tony Levin autographed Chapman Stick. You can even try your hands (and both sides of your brain) at playing a Chapman Stick in the live instrument studio/room!
Stick Men* w/ Tom Griesgraber
Tues July 15 th
The Bornemann Theatre, San Marcos
The Bornemann Theatre, San Marcos AVANT PROG – From Peter Gabriel and King Crimson comes Bass/Chapman Stick player Tony Levin and his side project Stick Men. A mashup of PROG Rock/Jazz/Experimental sounds. In the band is All-Time Top 10 Prog Rock drummer Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson, California Guitar Trio, Mr. Mister, XTC, TU-NER, O.R.k.) and Markus Reuter (Crimson Project) who invented the U8 and U10 Touch Guitars that he plays. During the last San Diego shows at The Grand Ritz Theater in 2023 they blew the crowd away with reKonstruCted versions of King Crimson songs and selections from their 18 studio and live albums.
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Mon Aug 11th
Rady Shell at Jacobs Park
PROLIFIC AND MULTI GENRE PROG
Steven Wilson
Thu September 11th
The Magnolia, El Cajon
PROG Master, producer, composer, remixer and founding member of Porcupine Tree! A whole other lever of modern prog genius!!
Symphony X w/ Sonata Arctica
Thu September 11th
Brick by Brick, Bay Park
PROG METAL
Carl Verheyen Band
Sat September 13th
Museum of Making Music, Carlsbad
PROG ROCK and MULTI-GENRE PROG Rated as a Top 100 Guitarist by Classic Rock Magazine and best known for being Supertramp’s guitarist. His band of world-class musicians take you on a multi- generational, multi-genre journey.
EXTC* w/ guest TBD
Fri September 19th
The Bornemann Theatre, San Marcos
Pop PROG
Terry Chambers, XTC’s original drummer returns with EXTC, bringing the classic hits back to the live stage. Named and endorsed by XTC founder Andy Partridge who no longer tours.
Al DiMeola
Tue September 23rd
The Magnolia, El Cajon
PROG Fusion / Jazz
Getting his start as a 19-year-old guitar prodigy with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White in Return to Forever, Al DiMeola has maintained a prolific 49 year solo career starting with the PROG Jazz Fusion masterpieces ‘Land of the Midnight Sun’ (1976) and ‘Elegant Gypsy’ (1977).
The INDIAN SUMMER of PROG! We all know the peak summer heat in San Diego is mid-June thru mid-October. While the leaves are changing and snow dustings have begun in parts of the nation, here at home we really don’t see a constant cool down until after Thanksgiving. Thus, the concert gods bless Southern California with tour routing and live events year-round. Here are a few final shows with Progressive roots ready for your choosing.
Dream Theater
Sat October 4th
Frontwave Arena, Oceanside
PROG METAL – 40 years since forming in 1985, founding member Mike Portnoy returns after a 13 year absence. A new album & tour will position the PROG Metal Titans as one of the most prolific and popular bands of the genre. Hard to believe it has already been 26 years since keyboardist Jordan Rudess joined up with Petrucci, Myung and LaBrie creating and solidifying the Dream Theater ‘Dream Team’!
Kaki King with The String Revolution*
Thu October 9th
California Center for the Arts, Escondido
INSTRUMENTAL PROG – Grammy winning musicians Kaki King and The String Revolution are teaming up with boundary pushing instrumental acoustic guitar reminiscent of Michael Hedges and Preston Reed.
Cirith Ungol w/ Witherfall, Lurking Terror, Sentinal
Sat October 11th
Fall Brewing Company, Miramar
True Old School PROG Power Metal brought to you by The Heavy Metal Swap Meet. Hailing from the 70’s and 80’s, where early Power Metal meets Doom Metal with a dose of Psychedelic PROG tossed in has created the template for Cirith Ungol. Getting their name from the mountain pass in J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings, they are known for sword and sorcery themes. Their debut album Frost and Fire ranks as a personal Top 100 Album of all time!
YES
Fri November 14th
Viejas Casino Concert Stage, Alpine
PROG ROCK ORIGINATORS!
YES will perform the 1972 FRAGILE album in its entirety. The band now consists of Steve Howe (guitars, vocals), Geoff Downes (keyboards), Jon Davison (vocals, acoustic guitar), Billy Sherwood (bass guitar, vocals), and Jay Schellen (drums).
Steve Hackett
Sat November 15th
Balboa Theatre, San Diego
PROG ROCK
Former Genesis guitarist who never disappoints and consistently tours with some form of early Genesis music revisited. Typically included is a 60-minute pre-intermission set featuring the best of his solo works.
*Critics Choice – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
