Tag Archives: Focus

FOCUS new single from FOCUS 12

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Progressive-rock legends FOCUS have a new single from FOCUS 12 – to be released next week, just as the band starts their North American tour as part of the. ASIA Heat Of The Moment bill (along with Martin Turner, ex WHISHBONE ASH, and CURVED AIR).

*Check out the new track “Focus 13” below, as well as the press release and album pre-order link.

  • Spirit of Unicorn Music are pleased to announce the release of Focus 13, the new single from Focus, taken from their forthcoming album Focus 12, which releases on July 5th. Focus 13 was written by progressive music legend and long-standing band leader, Thijs Van Leer.  About the single, bassist Udo Pannekeet comments “Focus 13 is a composition full of strong, emotive and beautiful melodies which only Thijs could write.” The track features the highly skilled drumming touch that only a true elder statesman of progressive music can deliver.  Pierre van der Linden excels, providing a flow and rhythm which creates tension yet also allows the melody to breath. Pannekeet continues “The drum part is totally unique!”  He concludes “As part of our line of numbered Focus tracks, 13 really sticks out.” The enigmatic Van Leer agrees, “I began this composition with nothing. Zero.  Yet it has ended up as a true hero!” The album Focus 12 was recorded at the world-renowned Wisseloord Studios, in the band’s native  country of the Netherlands and is produced by both Pannekeet and guitarist Menno Gootjes.  Set to be an exciting Summer for Focus, July will not only see the release of Focus 12 but the band will also fly to the USA and Canada for a string of 21 live shows, as part of the Heat Of The Moment Tour alongside other progressive music greats, Asia, Curved Air and Martin Turner – ex Wishbone Ash. Fjord 13 is available to download now from all good streaming services. The album Focus 12 releases on July 5th and once again features the stunning artwork of Roger Dean.  It will be available on CD Digipak, vinyl (housed in a gatefold sleeve) and via digital download.  You can pre-order the album here: 
  • https://burningshed.com/store/focus

Heat Of The Moment 2024 – USA Tour Dates:

Wednesday, 3rd July          : Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield

Thursday, 4th July               : Fallsview Casino, Niagara Falls

Saturday, 6th July                : Chevalier Theatre, Medford

Sunday, 7th July                  : The Paramount, Huntingdon

Tuesday, 9th July                 : Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood

Wednesday, 10th July         : Count Basie Center, Red Bank

Friday, 12th July                  : Tropicana Showroom, Atlantic City

Saturday, 13th July              : Wind Creek Event Center, Bethlehem

Sunday, 14th July                : American Music Theatre, Lancaster

Tuesday, 16th July              : Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, Spartanburg

Wednesday, 17th July         : Ryman Auditorium, Nashville

Thursday, 18th July             : Columbia County Performing Arts Center, Evans

Saturday, 20th July              : Hard Rock Live, Orlando

Sunday, 21st July                : The Parker Theatre, Fort Lauderdale

Monday, 22nd July              : Seminole Hard Rock, Tampa

Wednesday, 24th July         : North Charleston PAC, North Charleston

Thursday, 25th July             : Macon City Auditorium, Macon

Friday, 26th July                   : Saeger Theatre, Mobile

Sunday, 28th July                : VBC Mark Smith Concert Hall, Huntsville

Tuesday, 30th July              : The Armada Theatre, St Charles

Wednesday, 31st July         : The Pabst Theater, Milwaukee

http://www.focustgeband.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/focustheband50/

FOCUS – Prog legends announce ‘Focus 12’

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Spirit of Unicorn Music are pleased to announce the forthcoming release of FOCUS 12, the brand new studio album from Focus.

Founded by Thijs van Leer, Focus have been at the forefront of the progressive music movement since 1969, yet they still continue to deliver engaging, innovative and skillfully crafted music.  Focus 12 exemplifies this and proves why they are still a firm fan favourite, the world over.

For Thijs van Leer (75) and Pierre van der Linden (78), age is nothing more than a number.  Both continue to contribute to Focus with a passion.  Thijs, who has written the majority of the new album, rises at 4.30am every day in order to work on his compositions.  Whilst the album boasts some of Pierre’s greatest and most energetic drum sequences to date.

Allowing the younger guard to take the audio reins for the first time, Focus 12 is produced by band members Udo Pannekeet and Menno Gootjes, who also contribute two compositions on the album.

Thijs commented “How beautiful life can be when a band plays so easily and so together.”

Focus 12 was recorded at the world-renowned Wisseloord Studios, in the band’s native country, of the Netherlands.  A first for Focus, the album features a completely improvised piece which was captured as it spontaneously took place in the studio, during the recording process.  Thus proving that more than 50 years on, the band are still excited by undertaking something new and different.

Van Leer continues “Thanks Pierre, Udo and Menno for so much musical passion!”

The band continue their long association with legendary artist Roger Dean whose stunning artwork graces the front cover and packaging.  The vinyl version features a stunning gatefold sleeve.

Focus continue to be one of the hardest working rock bands on the planet, regularly touring the globe playing live.  This July, they undertake a string of live dates across the USA and Canada, as part of Asia’s Heat Of The Moment Tour.

Thijs van Leer concludes “After all these years, Focus is in the here and now; the triumph of survival!

Focus 12 will be available on CD, Vinyl and on all good streaming services and can be pre-ordered here:   https://burningshed.com/store/focus

Track Listing

  • 1. Fjord Focus
  • 2. Focus 13
  • 3. Béla
  • 4. Meta Indefinita
  • 5. All Aboard
  • 6. Born To Be You
  • 7. Nura
  • 8. Bowie
  • 9. Positano
  • 10. Gaia

Focus:

Thijs van Leer : Flute, Organ, Piano, Synths

Menno Gootjes : Guitars, Piano, Synths

Pierre van der Linden : Drums

Udo Pannekeet : Bass, Synths, Programming

Produced by Menno Gootjes and Udo Pannekeet

Recorded by Danny Sykes, Udo Pannekeet and Geert Scheijgrond at Wisseloord Studios and Wedgeview Studios, Netherlands

Mixed by Udo Pannekeet

Mastered by Sander van der Heide

FOCUS 50 TOUR, 2022

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A new Focus era has arrived, bringing with it a rejuvenated passion amongst the band.  In 2019 Focus released their first studio album for 6 years: Focus 11, which came complete with brand new Roger Dean artwork. The year was then spent touring from South America to Japan and everywhere in between in support of the new album. 

With the dawn of 2020 came the 50th anniversary of the formation of Focus.  Unfortunately, celebrations had to be put on hold due to global events.  2021 brought the 50th anniversary of Moving Waves, as well as the deluxe boxset Focus50 featuring Blu-ray and CD of the Live In Rio concert as well as a studio rerecord of all the Focus numbers.   

Finally, 2022 means a return to touring in a real way, and the band are delighted to be performing again! The classics such as Hocus Pocus (which has been featured in a global ad campaign for Nike, Top Gear and feature films such as Baby Driver), Sylvia, and House Of The King will, of course, be on the bill… and of course some of the Focus numbers make an appearance! 

band photo: Johnny Price

The band, consisting of Thijs van Leer (Hammond organ, flute and vocals), Pierre van der Linden (drums), Menno Gootjes (guitar), and Udo Pannekeet (bass), are delighted to get back to their fans and return to the stage to play the music they love.  

The band has toured extensively in the UK and Europe, including some great festivals,  and already have the below dates confirmed so far for 2022, with more to be added. 

March

22        Colchester Arts Centre                                          

23        Cambridge Downing Place URC                          

24        London Under The Bridge                                     

25        Sudbury St George                                                 

26        Canterbury Westgate Hall                                                                                     

28        Chelmsford A-Canteen                                          

29        King’s Lynn St John’s Chapel                               

30        Bristol The Fleece                                                   

31        Northampton The Spinney                                    

April

01        Whitby The Pavilion                                                

02        Derby Flower Pot                                                    

03        Sheffield HRH Prog             `                                  

04        Kinross Green Hotel                                                           

28        Milton Keynes The Stables                                 

30        Northernkin Festival                                                          

May

03        Chislehurst Beaverwood                                        

04        Dover The Booking Hall                                         

June

16        Fletching Trading Boundaries                               

17        Fletching Trading Boundaries                               

18        Cambridge Rock Festival (Peterborough)          

August

20        Faversham “A New Day” Festival                        

21        London New Cross Inn                                          

25        Cardiff Earl Haig Club                                            

27        Sheffield Corporation                                             

29        Wokingham Festival                                                           

November

09        Leeds Brudenell Centre                                         

10        Glasgow The Ferry                                                 

11        Gateshead The Sage                                                         

12        Kinross The Green Hotel                                       

13        Kinross The Green Hotel                                       

21        Ely Maltings                                                             

23        Southampton 1865                                                 

24        Wolverhampton Robin 2                                                    

26        Lewes Conservative Club 

Buy tickets:    https://bnds.us/oz2hux

https://focustheband.co.uk/ 
https://www.facebook.com/focustheband50 

02/’22