New DAMANEK Album "MAKING SHORE" is released on 13/01/2023

Hi
We are very pleased to announce the release of our new (3rd) album "MAKING SHORE"
It's been a real labour of love going through COVID, Studio moves, Illness and other disasters until we could get the time to complete it!

It is available to pre-order now from the GEP Store athttps://gep.co.uk/collections/all/products/damanek-making-shore-cd

Early feedback, prior to reviews coming out, has been brilliant so far

Check out the band website for all the latest news at www.damanek.com

2 Promo videos are also out there on our DAMANEK YouiTube channel which you can subscribe to

So thanks for all the Support getting us to this point, we really appreciate it
Guy, Sean & Marek

The 3rd Damanek album "Making Shore" has been mixed now awaiting mastering and release

Sorry for the long delay, caused by so many factors -COVID being just one
But we are there now
More news as to release dates will be forthcoming!
Thanks For your Patience

New (3rd) Damanek Album "Making Shore" now being produced

Tracks on the album
1. A Mountain of Sky
2. Back2Back
3. Noon Day Candles
4. Americana
5. In Deep Blue (Sea Songs Pt. 1)
6. A Crown of Thorns (Sea Songs Pt. 2)
7. Reflections on Copper
8. Self Composed

9. Oculus (Overture and Acts I to IV)

Guy Manning - Lead / Backing Vocals, Keyboards, Acoustic Instruments, Loops, Samples, Percussion
Sean Timms - Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Marek Arnold - Saxes, SeaBoard, Additional Keyboards

Guy Manning also plays with 'Manning', 'The Patchwork Alliance','United Progressive Fraternity'
Sean Timms also plays with 'Southern Empire', 'Unitopia'
Marek Arnold also plays with 'Seven Steps to the Green Door', 'Toxic Smile', 'Cyril', 'The Patchwork Alliance', 'United Progressive Fraternity'

Other special guests (So far):
Brody Thomas Green - Drums [Courtesy of 'Southern Empire'] Jonathan Barrett - Bass (on 3,5)
Cam Blokland - Electric Guitars [Courtesy of 'Southern Empire']
Julie King - Backing Vocals
Kevin Currie - Backing Vocals


We have launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise the money to complete the album, if you'd like to kindly help out, then please look up the "Damanek "MAKING SHORE" - Album Mix & Production" site on the GoFundMe website

The 'In Flight' TOUR Kicks off next week!!!

Check out the dates on the Damanek website (www.damanek.com)

For Sean / Brody:
Southern Empire arrived in the UK yesterday and will be performing at HRH Prog on Saturday 17th NOV!!

For Dan / Luke:
MASCHINE will be performing at HRH Prog on Thursday 15th NOV!!

See you out there! Say Hi!

Southern Empire

17/11/18 - HRH PROG Festival, Pwllheli, North Wales.

Damanek, Southern Empire and Seven Steps to the Green Door

Wed 21/11/18 - Bergkeller, Reichenbach, Germany.

Thurs 22/11/18 - Spirit of 66, Verviers, Belgium.

Sat 24/11/18 - De Boerderij, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands.

Damanek and Southern Empire

Tue 27/11/18 - The Vic, Swindon, U.K.

Wed 28/11/18 - The Joiners, Southampton, U.K.

Thurs 29/11/18 - The Robin 2, Bilston, U.K.

Fri 30/11/18 - Boston Music Room, Tufnell Park, London, U.K.

Sat 01/12/18 - Classic Rock Society (CRS), Maltby, U.K.

"IN FLIGHT" Pre-Ordering & Released Date

We are very happy indeed to relate that pre-ordering for the new DAMANEK album "In Flight" will start 7th SEPT 2018
The Official release date is set at 5th OCT 2018
Please visit www.damanek.com for more details and links

DAMANEK + SOUTHERN EMPIRE 'IN FLIGHT' TOUR 2018

"IN FLIGHT" DAMANEK + SOUTHERN EMPIRE + SEVEN STEPS....
We can now finally reveal our tour plans for Autumn 2018!!!
GEP Presents “Damanek and Southern Empire ‘In Flight’ tour of the U.K. and Europe November/December 2018”

In November 2018, internationally renowned progressive rock bands Damanek and Southern Empire will join forces and embark upon their debut tour of the United Kingdom and Europe.
Damanek, featuring members from three different nations, is the brainchild of visionary multi-instrumentalist / singer-songwriter Guy Manning. The group released their debut album ‘On Track' in early 2017 to critical acclaim appearing in many ‘Best album of 2017’ polls and will release their follow-up album ‘In Flight’ later this year through GEP Records.

Guy Manning, commenting on the upcoming album and tour stated, “Since we played that memorable set at Summers End X Festival in 2016, I have been constantly asked ‘When are you going to play live again?’ and I have always had to say “…as soon as we can”…but now I can say “SOON!” The new album “In Flight” will be ready for the tour and it has some fantastic new pieces on it, which we are keen to perform live along with some of the favorites from ‘On Track’. Should be one hell of a show!”

Southern Empire, hailing from Adelaide, South Australia will also release their second album mid year through GEP.

Led by composer / producer / keyboardist Sean Timms, Southern Empire was formed from the ashes of symphonic prog. band Unitopia in 2014 and have quickly established themselves as one of the premiere live and studio acts of the current prog. era.

“It’s always extremely exciting to release a new album and then take those songs on the road.

I think we have a very strong set of new songs to compliment the older material and we’re really looking forward to bringing our unique blend of ‘prog ’n’ roll’ (as Danny Lopresto, our lead vocalist calls it) to our friends and fans in the U.K. and Europe.” - Sean Timms.

For the European leg of the tour, Damanek and Southern Empire will be joined by special guests / friends Seven Steps to the Green Door.

“It’s great to be back on stage with Damanek two years after our first set at Summers End festival and promoting a brand new album. For the European dates of the tour, my mates in "Seven Steps to the Green Door" will join in for a triple bill of great songs from all the current albums and from our forthcoming new album THE?LIE, which will be released right in time for the tour!
– Marek Arnold.

Southern Empire

17/11/18 - HRH PROG Festival, Pwllheli, North Wales.

Damanek, Southern Empire and Seven Steps to the Green Door

Wed 21/11/18 - Bergkeller, Reichenbach, Germany.

Thurs 22/11/18 - Spirit of 66, Verviers, Belgium.

Sat 24/11/18 - De Boerderij, Zoetermeer, The Netherlands.

Damanek and Southern Empire

Tues 27/11/18 - The Vic, Swindon, U.K.

Wed 28/11/18 - The Joiners, Southampton, U.K.

Thurs 29/11/18 - The Robin 2, Bilston, U.K.

Fri 30/11/18 - Boston Music Room, Tufnell Park, London, U.K.

Sat 01/12/18 - Classic Rock Society (CRS), Maltby, U.K.

Please note: As joint headliners on the tour, Southern Empire and Damanek will be alternating and mixing up the final slot of each night to allow both bands a chance to play slightly extended sets…however we are not telling who / when!

Damanek: www.damanek.com / www.facebook.com/DamanekBand
Southern Empire: www.southernempireband.com / www.facebook.com/southernempireband
Seven Steps to the Green Door: www.ssttgd.de

"IN FLIGHT" - Album Progress

"IN FLIGHT" - Album Progress
Work in earnest has now started on converting the new album demos into the finished product "In Flight".
In time for the planned Autumn tour dates, the album is to be released around Sept 2018 time.

News of these planned dates are to be announced very soon!

We have reunited most of the wonderful cast that we assembled last time together plus there maybe some other names added...later on...

Guy, Sean, Marek & Dan will be abetted by Luke Machin, Antonio Vittozzi, Thomas Brody Green, Tim Irrgang, Julie King, Kev Currie, David B and the Santucci Horns.

The track list (in best guess running sequence) will be:-

01 Ragusa
02 Skyboat
03 The Crawler
04 Moon-Catcher (Heaven Song Part 2)
05 The Crossing
06 Big Eastern (Parts I-III)

It is sounding very good even at this stage if we do not mind saying so ourselves, so please come back for updates on all thigns DAMANEK as they come in

Very exciting times ahead for us with lots being planned in - watch this space!

DAMANEK Promotional Videos Now published

We are pleased to announce that 2 supporting Promotional videos for the DAMANEK "On Track" have now been released

Both have been created by our fabulous friend Ted Ollikkala and bring to life the subject matter of the pieces perfectly we think!

DAMANEK – THE COSMIC SCORE (Heaven Song Part 1)

We had the invaluable help of Nick Magnus on this piece. Nick took the demo and added his own wonderful arranging skills and keyboard performances to it…the end result speaks for itself.

So, the next time you take a look up at the beautiful night sky, please take a moment to think of this song…it may change the way you see things!!

“The Cosmic Score” footage can be found up on our Damanek YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r84uBiSV_c

DAMANEK – LONG TIME, SHADOW FALLS

You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRb-k5GbA-c
A very evocative visual treat highlighting the plight of African Wildlife, diminished and becoming extinct at the hands of Man.
Please watch right to the end as the credits include site links to informational resources to do with the subject matter ie. the decline of African Animals at the hand of Man.
Let's put a stop to this together!

We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!.
Damanek

ON TRACK now available to pre-order from the GIANT ELECTRIC PEA STORE / PROG MAGAZINE

The debut DAMANEK album, "On Track", is now on pre-order at the store - http://www.gep.co.uk/store/cd-s/damanek.html A track from the album, "long Time, Shadow Falls" is also featured on the new PROG MAGAZINE (Issue 76) Covermount CD

DAMANEK SIGN TO GEP

DAMANEK sign to GEP Following an impressive debut show at last year’s Summer’s End festival Damanek (Guy Manning: vocals, keyboards, guitars; Dan Mash: (‘Maschine’) bass; Marek Arnold: (‘Toxic Smile’/’Seven Steps to the Green Door’) saxes & clarinet; and Sean Timms: (‘Southern Empire’/’Unitopia’) keyboards, backing vocals) will release their first album ‘On Track’ with GEP in May 2017.

‘On Track’ is a genre-defying collection of sophisticated songs that manage to combine impressive technical proficiency with catchy hooks and vast soundscapes. Sean Timms’ sleek production adds to the overall sense of quality and class on this impressive debut.

The recording of ‘On Track’ is completed by a stellar list of guest musicians including:
Brody Thomas Green ('Southern Empire') – drums;
Tim Irrgang (‘UPF’) – percussion;
Antonio Vittozzi ('Soul Secret') – guitars;
Luke Machin ('Maschine'/’Kiama’/’The Tangent’) – guitars;
tephen Dundon ('Molly Bloom') – flute;
Nick Magnus – keyboards;
Phideaux – vocals;
Ulf Reinhardt ('Seven Steps to the Green Door') - drums.

2016 - DAMANEK - Updates and more...

DAMANEK - Updates and more...

Happy New Year!
Arranging, re-arranging and recording has started for the DAMANEK project now

Getting involved so far are:
Guy - Vox, Keys, Acoustic things...
Marek - Saxes, Clarinet, Keys
Dan - Bass, BVs

Plus we are very pleased to announce that our Principal keys player will be Mr. Sean Timms (Unitopia, Southern Empire). Sean is already hard at work on the first of the album pieces contributing to the conveyor belt of change which then moves on to Marek and Ulf Reinhardt (Seven Steps to the Green Door.) recording the drum sections.

Antonio Vittozzi (Soul Secret) is also working with Guy on the Electric Guitar arrangements too......so off the starting blocks we go...

Nick Magnus has kindly played keys and arranged parts on one piece for us already and Mr. John Hackett has allowed us to be able to employ his considerable talent as flute parts are needed!
Other discussions for more contributors are under way too...more on that later..!!!!!

Whist all this has been going on, Guy has also had time to write most of the lyrics for Marek's forthcoming CYRIL II album, plus has also contributed lyrics to the wonderful "FETISH" album newly released by Seven Steps to the Green Door. This is a beautiful sounding album crammed with fantastic arrangements and performances..I urge you to go hear/buy it :)

....and, as if this was not enough....the other 15 or so pieces remaining after the DAMANEK selection and now being bundled together to provide the debut material for yet another Project/band Again...more new on all that when that is firmed up.

DAMANEK

Marek Arnold and Daniel Mash paid me a visit at the end of July 2015 to discuss plans for a new project/venture.

The three of us are of course involved with UPF (See News below) and on tour, we got on so well that now, back at home, we thought we would carry on the collaboration as we are the European arm of that band.

We sat patiently in the studio at BURNSIDE and reviewed all the demos that I had started and they were able to pick out 10 that they wanted to work on with me.

These, plus other tunes from Dan and Marek, will form the basis of a new future band/album

The working title of this outfit is DEMANEK

I will keep you updated as to progress on this plus on the next UPF album too.

However as there are so many new songs of mine now demoed, there will be likely to be yet another project put together to work on those too...so...busy busy busy!!! Guy

AKOUSTIK #2 is completed at last!

AKOUSTIK #2 is completed at last!
Ready for release in August 2014 on Festival Music

9 re-imagined oldies from across the Manning back catalogue
plus 3 brand new pieces* ...

Track Listing:

01. White Waters
02. Songs From The Bilston House
03. Yesterdays' Hero *
04. A Strange Place
05. Moorland Skies *
06. Flight 19
07. Saturday Picture Show *
08. Blue Girl
09. Icarus & Me
10. Joshua Logan
11. Ships
12. Winter

Featuring:
Guy Manning - Guitars, Keyboards, Mandolins, Drums, Percussion & Vocals
Julie King - Vocals
David Million - Guitars
Jonathan Barrett - Bass
Kev Currie - Backing Vocal arrangements
Steve Dundon - Flute
Marek Arnold - Saxes & Clarinet
Ian 'Walter' Fairbairn - Fiddle & Mandolin
Rick Henry - Drums & Percussion
Martin Thiselton - Piano

Introducing the "United Progressive Fraternity"

UPF - Press Release

Exciting news from down under!

Watch out for the Promotional Tour Dates
(See the MANNING WEB SITE LIVE Page)

"Although, well known Australian Progressive Rock group Unitopia have decided to call it a day, the musical spirit still lives on in the newly formed United Progressive Fraternity...
A phoenix from the ashes, UPF are a tour de force with ex-Unitopia members Matt Williams on guitar, Dave Hopgood on drums, Tim Irrgang on percussion and the ever magical voice of Mark ‘Truey’ Trueack (whose vision, this juggernaut is).
Added to this, Mark has managed to corral some progressive rock heavyweight 'kindred spirits' in the form of keyboard player, guitarist, vocalist and song-writer, friend Guy Manning (Manning, The Tangent), bass guitarist, Steve Gee (Landmarq) and on the first UPF album and also on their up and coming tour of the UK and Europe later in the year, wind player Ian Ritchie (renowned for his work with Roger Waters).
SEE MANNING WEB SITE FOR MORE DETAILS!

Manning 'band' retires!

Statement from Guy Manning "I wanted to keep you posted as to the current status of the MANNING 'band' The 'band' line-up has been ongoing, with various members leaving and joining since 2008. Whilst I have been the constant, this has provided highs and lows for both myself and the members alike. After much soul searching, I have decided that it is time that this current line-up reach its natural 'end of life'. I am sure that I will be working individually with the folks on future projects, but for now, we are to go our separate ways. It has been a great deal of both hard work and much fun - the live shows were all good and the albums we have produced as an ensemble have been very well received indeed! I wish each and every member of the Manning Band lineups all the very best and more news about their own activities will no doubt surface very soon Guy... For myself, I am still writing new material. I have 2 "Projects" on the go at this time: a) AKOUSTIK #2 ...more songs re-interpreted in an acoustic setting from the long Manning back catalogue plus, some new acoustic based pieces that did not fit previously anywhere b) A new large scale concept album. This is very likely to be a long term complex and involved project so I am not sure when (or if) this will see the light of day yet! or who will be involved in its production. I feel no sense of urgency or ticking clock to get things out there in 2014...I am ambling along with some time to reflect, work a little and I am happy to just see where the current takes me ......short term! (I get bored easily) In terms of more live appearances, some solo or small line-up (most probably AKOUSTIK) shows are likely to be arranged in 2014. So please stay tuned! Is there anybody out there?... Meanwhile, it would be very nice indeed to work with other people too,on new music etc ...just as a writer, player, singer (not a leader!). If anyone has any collaborations they'd like to discuss or thoughts as to how I may get involved with any other Projects, then please drop me a line at guym@guymanning.com So, thanks, once again, to the loyal Manning supporters out there for listening to the music! There will be more! Hope to see you soon Guy (Manning)"

New album is now pre-ordering

Stop Press: The new MANNING album " The Root, the Leaf & the Bone" is now available to pre-order from the MANNING Web Site.
Note: Copies will be sent out as soon as we have them in stock (and they are expected in the next week!)

The very early promotional reviews are starting to appear now too :

"The is the 14th MANNING album in as many years, and it is amazing how Guy Manning keeps up the momentum and quality of his work...a melting pot of instrumentation...it is all superbly controlled under the watchful eye of Guy Manning who never loses his focus and has produced another fine piece of work." ROCK SOCIETY magazine

Live dates in November will officially launch the music onto the live stage...so lots of exciting things planned.

Radio Shows/Interviews to support the new release have also been arranged (Schedule again published on the web site)

For more details of all these activities - Please see the band web site (www.guymanning.com)

Sign up for the Official Mailing List there too to keep up to date with Manning happenings

MANNING - New Official MAILING LIST

You can keep up to date with all the latest activities, promotions, reviews etc. straight to your INBOX by signing up to out MAILING list

Visit the band website (http://www.guymanning.com/2009site/forum.html) and use the form at the top of the page to subscribe!

A weekend of gigs announced, including the new album launch

Sat 16th Nov and Sun 17th November will see the MANNING band return to live performances.

Please note, both shows will be early doors starters to accommodate the fine bill:

Closing the night(s) will be the fabulous John Young Band
Capitalising on the fantastic success of the 'Lifesigns' album

Opening proceedings will be a rare UK appearance by the Phideaux 'Trio' (Phideaux, Valerie & Ariel) with some help from Guy (we think!). The trio were over visiting Guy in the UK and we thought...well why not?

Manning will take centre slot and centre stage with a newly revamped set list featuring some songs from the brand new 2013 release "The Root, The Leaf & The Bone" plus other older pieces, many which have never been played live before!

More details and directions to advance sale tickets can be found on the Bands official Website LIVE page ...book early!

Album pre-release information

Easing into the stream of activity that precedes a new album release now. First up is a bit of fun. I asked each of our Special Guests to talk about things "MANNING". I will try to post these up as they arrive as the days move towards our OCTOBER release date, but first to respond was the wonderful Marek Arnold (see what he had to say here: http://www.guymanning.com/2009site/Marek/Root-Questions/root-index.html

"The Root, the Leaf & the Bone" Progress Report

The recordings for this album are almost done, with just some last overdubs to take care of now.

The artwork is pretty much there too!

The next weeks sees us move into the Mixing Phase and then onto final Production / Mastering.

Release is scheduled for October 2013 on Festival Music (F2).

The track list running order has been decided upon:
1. The Root, the Leaf & the Bone
2. Decon(struction) Blues
3. Autumn Song
4. The Forge
5. Old School
6. Palace of Delights
7. The Huntsman & the Poacher
8. Mists of Morning Calling to the Day
9. Amongst the Sleepers

A set of songs dealing with a number of aspects around the theme of "change", be it through 'progress', the seasons, nostalgia or pure fantasy