Band Line Up 2015
With debut album Sunshine, Diatessaron are set to change perceptions of progressive rock as a whole. It is a defining work that smashes through expectations, combining expansive song suites and streamlined pop into a sound the band has come to describe as “condensed prog”. At the heart of the album is title track “Sunshine”, a trilogy of songs connected by a single melodic thread. Each of the three movements contain a fragment of a melody that gradually weaves itself together, symbolizing the shattering effects of loss and the long, arduous journey one must endure to reach recovery. The suite is surrounded by a collection of songs that echo similar themes while exploring a wider range of musical territory.
Diatessaron formed in early 2007 while vocalist Simon Tj and guitarist Darren Young were studying music at the University of Calgary. Together the five-piece (rounded out by Stephan Bots, Carl Janzen, and Erik Smistad) discovered a shared love for progressive music and began writing the music that led to two early demos as well as their first two EPs, Sky Blue and the five-movement prog rock symphony Monument. Rock Society (UK) magazine praised Monument, stating “albums like this – particularly from so young a band – do not come along very often”. In January 2013, the band released its third EP, Cobalt 60 Blue, with sounds ranging from the ethereal “Kitestrings” to the downright bizarre “A Magnet’s Love Song”.
In August 2014 the band went on its first UK tour. During this tour, the band previewed songs from its forthcoming album Sunshine, to huge acclaim from fans and press alike. Each show garnered spectacular reviews, with one writer even claiming they had surpassed the brilliance of Rush. A bold claim, perhaps, but one the band could not complain about! The UK market is eager to see Diatessaron on its return voyage, culminating in an appearance at Bloodstock Open Air 2015 on the New Blood stage. The year of the Diatessaron is upon us.
Diatessaron is overwhelmed by the support of the UK music community and are eager to make an impact on the New Blood stage. We feel privileged to say that Bloodstock will be our first ever UK festival appearance - and hopefully the first of many to come!
