Plotting 2022

Time: A dull, overcast Wednesday afternoon in the first week of January 2022 

Location: A remote café in the middle of rural Northumberland 

Dramatis Personae: Stuckfish, a band of worldly wise musicians who play melodic rock with a progressive twist 

Scenario: Plotting 2022, after two superbly received albums Calling and The Watcher working out how to reconquer the world of Prog in a post pandemic era 

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The initial discussion goes like this – who’s buying the coffees, Philip, you called us all here, surely you’re in the chair? Yes, OK I’ll buy the coffees. Oh, and I’ll have a cheese toastie. Me too. I’ll have a flapjack. I fancy one of those millionaire shortbreads! I’m buying coffees only! Get your own sundries! It’s an old scene but just so normal. 

Coffees and sundries arrive and then it really is the old normal. The third album is part way finished and the deadline is for the end of February. There are at least ten tracks completed or part completed. It is more than is needed especially as most of the track’s weigh at eight or so minutes. Everybody is full of enthusiasm for the new tracks. The general consensus around the, now very cluttered, coffee tables is that they are the best yet and getting better. But how to promote it? Gigs? Reviews? Articles? Merchandise? Song writing and rehearsals have been ongoing, but it is now time to stare 2022 full in the face. 

2022 stares right back - there are only a couple of festivals in the diary; Fusion3.5 and Soundle Weekend! But there is the double header in Newcastle with Karibow. 2022, it’s simple - Stuckfish need to be playing live more. Prog audiences need to be able to see the talent of the musicians in the band, to hear the quality of all the new material. Prog audiences are gig goers. More gigs are needed, and they need to be planned in now! The coffee is kicking in now, voices are slightly raised in enthusiasm. What about Prog for Peart? What about playing some of those great venues in the midlands and then head south or into Yorkshire? More gigs in the diary. Decisions in the making. 2022 needs to know about this album, about these gigs. Use all the outlets – create more videos write a monthly blog, get more reviews, take on the world… push, push, push. 

2022 is the key year for Stuckfish. By the time it is out and 2023 is upon us, Stuckfish will be a band name on every prog fan’s lips.