Big Big Train's violinist/multi-instrumentalist/co-writer/occasional singer Clare Lindley on The Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show. Their album "Woodcut" is due March 6 on InsideOut https://youtu.be/3AR0xz1r3V0?si=x9HPLYZYttn8QOlh via @YouTube
1/14/26
Rachael Sage's "Just Enough" is like something Walt Whitman would write. It's one of the songs I'm plugging this season.
Rachael Sage's "Just Enough" is like something Walt Whitman would write. It's one of the songs I'm plugging this season.
https://youtu.be/rH-tHGA59Ag?si=m0oftXnkKjORTYFa
1/9/26
“Goodbye, America” New Single by Refestramus
Credits and Album Cover for "Morri's Rock Boutique"Airport Incident After Festival Performance
Becomes
Tipping Point for Politically-Charged New Release
Chicago-based progressive rock project
Refestramus announces the release of its new single, “Goodbye, America,”
arriving January 2, 2026. The song is an explicit political statement that confronts
empire, sanctions, and moral blowback, drawing on mythology and lived
experience to ask hard questions about power and accountability.
At the center of the song is Kashay
Besmertny, a figure from Russian folklore whose “deathless” power comes from
hiding his soul outside his own body. Derek uses him as a metaphor for empires
that can no longer feel the human cost of their actions.
Refestramus returned to the United
States from Heathrow Airport in November after performing at the UK progressive
rock festival HRH Prog 15, where the band performed with acclaimed progressive
musicians including David Jackson (of classic prog act Van der Graaf Generator)
and Alex Hutchings from Steven Wilson’s touring band.
Following the performance, Refestramus
founder Derek Ferguson was involved in a routine customer-service dispute at
Heathrow that escalated when a comment about documenting the interaction online
was recorded as “threatening.” No safety or security incident occurred, but the
experience proved formative.
“What struck me wasn’t the
inconvenience,” Ferguson says. “It was how quickly ordinary speech can now be
reclassified as ‘threatening’ in environments shaped by preemptive
harm-prevention frameworks that can unintentionally normalize intimidating
behavior within authority structures. In combination with similar dynamics
playing out elsewhere, you realize how easily systems meant to protect people
end up allowing some people to exercise power over others.”
Ferguson adds that the moment resonated
precisely because it echoed concerns closer to home, “not across borders.”
The band stresses that the incident
itself is not the story, but rather a real-world illustration of the themes
explored in “Goodbye, America,” which addresses the human cost of sanctions,
displacement, and moral distance.
Lyrics include:
Mothers left out on the street,
Your sanctions left no food to eat.
America, the things you do —
I see now they’re coming back to you.
“Goodbye America” features Octarine Sky’s
Jan Christiana (vocals, keyboards, guitars, and bass) and Dyanne Potter Voegtlin
(keyboards and vocals), and bandleader/writer Derek Ferguson (drums).
“Goodbye, America” is the central
movement of a longer ten-minute composition on the forthcoming album “Morri’s
Rock Boutique” titled “Deathless,” which uses the Kashay myth to trace how
unchecked power ultimately consumes even those who wield it.
“Goodbye, America” will be released as a standalone single on January 2, 2026. The album “Morri’s Rock Boutique,” which is produced by Ian Beabout, follows on March 20, 2026.
“Deathless” will be available on streaming media on March 6.
Fan Link https://fanlink.tv/goodbyeAmerica
“Goodbye, America” lyrics
By Refestramus
So many people died, and what was it all for?
The parts they played in America's war.
Our lives are prisons – we will never be free,
And our cells are made with magic
that’s so strong you cannot see.
As if taken by Kashay Besmertny,
America you’ve gotten so hard to see.
It seems as if with every war,
You vanished just a little more.
Mothers left out on the street.
Your sanctions left no food to eat.
America, the things you do
I see now are coming back to you.
C 2026 Derek Ferguson/Refestramus Music
Publishing (ASCAP), All Rights Reserved
About
Refestramus:
Refestramus is a Chicago-based progressive rock project blending literate
songwriting, political reflection, and classic prog influences. The band’s work
explores power, memory, displacement, and moral responsibility in an
increasingly rule-saturated world.
For more
information:
https://refestramus.com
https://refestramus.bandcamp.com
12/27/25
Emmy Award Winning Guitarist Brian Tarquin's “Vegas Blue” In Memory of Las Vegas Tragedy
Featuring guest artists Steve Morse, Trey Gunn, Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, Phil Naro, Hal Lindes, Tony Carey and others!
Las Vegas, Nevada, Mandalay Bay Hotel, October 1st, 2017. This was the site of a tragic and, all too familiar, occurrence involving a deadly mass shooting at the hands of a deranged gunman. What began that evening as a peaceful and celebratory country music concert ended in bullet-riddled chaos and carnage for countless patrons and innocent by-standers. This latest recording project by multi-Emmy winning guitarist/producer/engineer Brian Tarquin and company is dedicated to helping the families and survivors of this horrific mass shooting. And, in doing so, may also shine the spotlight on the need for sensible, responsible and humane gun laws and safety.
Says Brian, “This release is dedicated to the victims of the tragic events that occurred at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas October 1, 2017. All of our hearts and prayers go out to them and their families. Through this music we have tried to creatively express our deepest feelings.”
If music is, indeed, a supreme healer then one needs look no further than this visionary endeavor. And, as with many of Tarquin’s previous charitable compilations, the material, guest stars and production is first rate. From start to finish the listener is transported to that fateful evening, yet uplifted through the power of these stellar performances.
Says Brian, “Time after time we watch senseless acts of gun violence in the news media creating a sense of indifference in our consciousness. We musicians have come together to bring emotion and awareness through our performances.”
Multi Emmy Award winning Brian Tarquin is an established
top rate composer/guitarist. He has won 3 Emmy's for “Outstanding Achievement
in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series” and has been nominated
for an Emmy 6 times. In 2019 Tarquin received a Global Music Gold Award for his
release “Orlando In Heaven” for “Best Album.” Three years in a row (2016-2019)
Tarquin received “Best Album Of The Year” nominations from the Independent
Music Awards for his releases “Guitars For Wounded Warriors,” “Orlando in
Heaven” and “Guitars for Veterans.” On which, Tarquin shows his guitar prowess
along side such world-class shredders as: Steve Morse, Larry Coryell, Mike
Stern, Billy Sheehan, Gary Hoey, Bumblefoot (Guns N’ Roses), Reb Beach
(Whitesnake), Hal Lindes (Dire Straits), Chris Poland (Megadeth) and Chuck Loeb
(FourPlay). In 2006 SESAC honored him with the Network Television Performance
Award. Tarquin has graced the Top Billboard Charts with such commercial
releases as: “This is Acid Jazz, Vol. 2,” “Sweet Emotions,” and “Bossa Brava:
Caliente” on Instinct Records, followed by several solo jazz albums, which
charted Top 10 at Smooth Jazz Radio R&R and Gavin charts. Brian has
appeared on 38 releases, selling over 140,000 records in his career.
Produced & engineered by Brian Tarquin
Recorded at Jungle Room Studios, Florida 2018-2019 entirely thru an analog Trident mixing console on a 24 track Ampex 1200 tape machine and a Otari Radar, mixed down to a Ampex 440c 1/4” tape machine.
Mastered by David Glasser & Geoff Gray at Airshow
Mastering, Boulder, CO
Tracks:
1. Distant Light featuring Steve Morse & Hal Lindes
2. Lights of Las Vegas featuring Phil Naro & Ron
‘Bumblefoot’ Thal
3. Demonic featuring Trey Gunn
4. Tomorrow's Another Day featuring Phil Naro
5. Vegas Blue
6. Evil In Men's Hearts featuring Tony Carey
7. Forgiveness featuring Phil Naro
8. Know Me featuring Phil Naro
9. Hallowed Ground featuring Trey Gunn
10. Run For Cover featuring Phil Naro, Randy Coven &
The Flyin’ Ryan Bros
11. Distant Light (vocal) featuring Phil Naro, Steve Morse
& Hal Lindes
Here's what the press has said about “Vegas Blue”:
“The material, guest stars and production is first rate. From start to finish the listener is transported to that fateful evening, yet uplifted through the power of these stellar performances.” - Eric Harabadian, Progression Magazine
“Tarquin writes with soul and fire and plays with passion and precision. Once again, he has enlisted a first-rate squad of guests performers, including Trey Gunn (King Crimson), Steve Morse (Deep Purple) and Bumblefoot (GN'R), who help bring these rich, vivid recordings to life.”- Mark Nardone, Music Connection
“…every note, phrase, tone color, and impact of pick and/or finger on string will send shivers down your spine.” - Guitar Player Magazine
To order:
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/
iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/
For
more information:
BHP Music-Guitar Trax Records, LLC
12/16/25
Girl With a Hawk's Linda Viens on The Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview ...
I loved interviewing Linda Viens, who's contributed much to Boston's rock scene. We talk about her music career, how things have changed through the years, stoicism.... She offers a Wiccan ritual for the Winter Solstice coming on December 21.
12/12/25
Holiday songs 2025
Tom Ciurczak "Santa's Got a Brand New Bag" male vocals, similar timbre as Bruce Springsteen with horns, it's about Santa getting a new bag. The first few notes sound like James Brown's "Papa," but the song swings into theatrical rock. It mentions the children all over the world, way up in the sky.
"I Ruined Christmas This Year" 2025 Refestramus featuring Alina Golosova slow pop rock with emo and goth undertones, vocals like Billie Eilish and Lana Delray, she wanted to do a good job on Christmas but "I ruined Christmas this year."
"I Ruined Christmas" (2024) Contemporary art-rock band, female fronted-vocals like Miley Cyrus, bells, "I ruined Christmas this year...It's like I told you before, 'it won't happen again, my dear." This is a list of things she's done to reindeer, family members, and the eggnog!
Rachael Sage Hanukkah in the Village
Dan Berggren "Never Take Love for Granted"
Cindy Hughlett & Stephen Mellilo "Away in a Manger" Kate Bush tones with an orchestra behind her.
12/11/25
Michael Cleveland on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show
My interview with the Grammy-winning and nominated Michael Cleveland is live on YouTube. We talk about how he fell in love and committed to playing fiddle, his collaborators most notably Jason Carter for the new album "Carter Cleveland," and his love for the Southern Indiana and Louisville, Kentucky part of our country. Michael does sessions and is open with how he's done right with his vision impairment.
12/7/25
Red32's Steve Bonino on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show
I had a great time talking with songwriter Steve Bonino on what makes him tick and the new RED32 album "Cryogenic Dreams" on my Interview Show. https://youtu.be/_TXYFF6KHNc?si=e9Sa35cmyW45QYBf via @YouTube
11/25/25
New Vinyl from Tom Ciurczak, RED32, and Bruce Wojick and the Struggle
Vinyl Advisory
Three of my artists are celebrating releases of their albums on vinyl. They’re available to send the vinyl for media people that will cover them and/or play them on their radio shows, podcasts, and TV. They’re doing interviews. A
Tom Ciurczak “YORICK”
Americana and Contemporary Classic Rocker Tom Ciurczak’s “YORICK”
is made of180 G, translucent turquoise vinyl.
Ciurczak studied songwriting, in part, from Americana
artist Steve Earle at his Camp Copperhead, is also inspired by classic rock,
Warren Zevon, Bruce Springsteen, the Who, Eagles, progressive rockers such as
Gentle Giant.
Listen to and watch the album’s title cut “Yorick” at www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K5dcdI1Z18 .
Also, listen to “The Watcher,” which is about alien left behind on Earth.
Wrinkly Rockers Club
nominated Ciurczak’s “The Watcher” as one of their 6 Sunday tracks of the week
and wrote “a melodic blend of powerful storytelling, energetic rhythms and
heartland Rock and Roll”
Order Tom’s music at tomciurczak.com/album/3419593/yorick
Bruce Wojick and the Struggle “The Hard Way”
Bruce says, "’The Hard Way’ is the culmination of every lesson learned on stage, in the studio, and on the road, and made by musicians who've lived it. Each song was written on the same acoustic guitar my mom bought me as a kid which might tell you everything you need to know. So, we keep writing, plowing through, and still in the Struggle.
Finding airplay on Buffalo and British radio, listen to his
interview with Jeff Collins at 29 minutes into the broadcast at https://hardrockhellradio.com/2025/11/21/the-rock-jukebox-with-jeff-collins-56/
Order “The Hard Way” at
www.segnorecords.com/bruce-wojick-the-struggle-vinyl
RED32
RED32’s “Cryogenic Dreams” is out now on Red Vinyl. The
group is the collaboration of Steve Bonino (lyrics, bass, vocals), Tony
Romero (Synth, spoken word), Robeone (keyboards, synthesizers), and the late
Eric Confer (guitars). Jimmy Keegan guests on drums throughout “Cryogenic
Dreams.”
Anna Carlini praises, “on what is more than just a follow
up to the debut album—as it’s an exploration of how to creatively write and
record music.”
Listen to my interview with the group’s main lyricist Steve
Bonino at https://youtu.be/_TXYFF6KHNc?si=yGKajTNaqM6sYfyW
Order “Cryogenic Dreams” at thebandwagonusa.com/collections/red32/products/red32-cryogenic-dreams-red-lp-new-release
10/28/25
Damn Tall Buildings on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show
Brooklyn's Damn Tall Buildings on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show. They write, tour, sing, teach, and are part of the Crown Heights Community. These Americana/country rockers are playing Drom, NYC on Thursday, Nov. 6. Other dates this year:
Nov 7 Fri Groton Hill Music Center, Groton, MA
Nov 14 Fri Grand Theatre, Frankfort, KY
Nov 15 Sat Jasper Arts Center, Jasper, IN
Nov 21 Fri Come On In House Concerts, Fort Collins, CO
Nov 22 Sat Chautauqua Community House, Boulder, CO
Nov 23 Sun Swallow Hill Music, Denver, CO
10/27/25
Refestramus return with the dance single "Zombie Love 2025"
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10/21/25
Anne Leighton To Speak About Her Cats and Musicians She’s Worked with at The First Music and Cats Symposium on Thanksgiving Weekend
Leighton Selfie of Anne and Arnold (or Arnie).
Cat Lover/Public
Speaker/Poet/Publicist Anne Leighton is grateful for the opportunity to deliver
a speech about some of her “Successful Musicians Because of
Their “Mewses” online on
Thanksgiving Weekend. She will join a range of over 40 music and cat lovers
including from the world of Academia to speak at Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
in Germany's first ever "Music and Cats" Symposium on Nov. 28 and 29
from 11 till 7 pm Germany time, which is 5 AM till 1 PM ET.
Most of Anne’s
cats and classic rock stories focus on Jethro Tull, Renaissance, Grand Funk
Railroad, classic rock artists that she publicized. Anne shares how her clients
found ways to help cats and other animals through their music.
Anne will be
telling her stories on November 29 at 15:15 CET/9:15 AM ET.
“My research embraces cat folklore and science. In comparing notes about my cats with musicians I work with, they’d speak passionately of the many ways they love cats. These stories are more about ways working on animal—especially cat—welfare have changed their lives.” Anne observes, “In knowing them, these artists have much in common with animals.” Anne’s cat book, “Paws for Thought: How to Understand What Your Cat is Thinking” (Rockwell Books, UK) and other writings are available for mail order at her website anneleighton.com/store.
The Music
and Cats Symposium is the first ever dedicated to the intersection of music and
cats, bringing together research from various fields, including music history
and theory, popular music studies, human-animal studies, psychology, behavioral
biology, media and cultural studies, literary studies, and artistic practice,
among others.
Those
interested in attending this two day free symposium of speeches about Music and
Cats can register at www.eventbrite.de/e/music-and-cats-online-symposium-tickets-1595714708649?aff=oddtdtcreator
photo by Holly Van Voast
10/19/25
Mark Andes w/ guest interviewer Tom Ciurczak on The Anne Leighton Inclus...
After Technical Difficulties, I'm reposting Tom Ciurczak's and my interview with Mark Andes. https://youtu.be/-X0rCFxYgKk?si=29xze4pS9ggwySeS
10/7/25
Renaissance's Annie Haslam on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show
Renaissance's Annie Haslam on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show. I’m excited to have spoken with Annie Haslam, who has co-created “The History of Renaissance” tour with the band’s co-founder Jim McCarty, who you know from the Yardbirds. Annie’s also going to be at ProgStock this weekend. This interview has no boundaries--we talk about many of her passions. It’s a pleasure, also, to work with her these days.
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