The Progmeister’s favourite albums of 2025

In a year that saw my retirement from my role as a health care professional and adjusting to a slower pace of life with considerably less resources, I can honestly say that music once again enriches my life on a daily basis providing the much needed escape from reality, boredom and worry. Apart from a couple of health issues it has been a positive year on a personal level, the current state of the planet not withstanding. There have been some great live events, Fusion 6 and Steven Wilson to name but a couple, though more recently a rather special event in my home town by Tony Patterson & Doug Melbourne supported by the rather wonderful Candacraig. I hosted the gig along with an old friend Paul Rogers at St Georges Venue in Hartlepool and despite playing in such a cavernous building both teams played a blinder.

I think it’s fair to say that despite all of the doom and gloom around, the joy and positivity within the Prog community is abound and seemingly unfaltering. And rightly so, with some amazing albums released throughout the year by both new and more established artists, I do feel blessed. Many of the bastions of Prog are now well into their dotage and some of them unfortunately did not pass the finishing post of 2025. To those, I doth my cap and thank from the bottom of my heart for the music, teachings, pleasure and inspiration they gave to me throughout the years. Of course not every one of my idols from the early days get my full stamp of approval as they seem to have veered into a life of social and political comment rather than celebrate their former ground breaking musical achievements to the full. Without being too specific and yet a little obvious, I took him at his word and “fucked Off to the bar”. Despite Brexit throwing a few spanners in the works I have managed to chat and communicate with so many fantastic musicians from Poland, Italy, France, Norway, Netherlands and despite their ordeal, Ukraine. To an old geezer like me it’s a breath of fresh air meeting younger musicians bringing so much quality and talent to a vibrant scene. The diversity and enthusiasm sometimes takes my breath away. A memorable event in the year was being in a car with Charlie Bramald of Ghost Of The Machine and being lost in the Peak District national park with him in the back. Believe me when i say “are we there yet” doesn’t cover it. Great dude though.

In October I interviewed Emily Francis of Emily Francis Trio who not only noted the progress of her own career but introduced others who inspired her musical journey which expands the outlook of so many consumers and more importantly those committed music fans further enhancing their passion and pleasure. I was quite impressed with Emily’s generosity and kindness. Another high for me in 2025 was being asked to work alongside Mike Whitfield and Bo Hanson, two of my colleagues from the management team at Progzilla Radio. Charged with the task of compiling a list of songs and music by artists championed enthusiastically by the wider team at Progzilla. These high qualty ventures were included in Prog Magazine #163 as a download albums and up until the publication of this blog had received over 2000 downloads. Quite an achievement and fantastic exposure for some exceptional bands and artists. I have to admit that October was a real busy month for me with one things and another. I hosted my annual get together for audiophiles, NEBO (North East Bake Off) and also travelled to south Wales to spend an extended weekend with my friend Caron Jones where we spent a full weekend listening fairly intensively to music via an extremely high end Hi-Fi system. What’s not to like? I was kindly driven there by one of my Progzilla colleagues Graham Harfleet who also let me kip at his gaff situated in the beautiful city of Bath between train journey’s. There was a broad church of music consumed over the three days and much inspiration was garnered from the event. It was great too to meet up with Steve Lazenby just prior to our departure so there was a lot of love in the room.

At the end of November 2025 I managed to catch a gig by John Hackett Band at Darlington Forum and I have to say that despite seeing this band on numerous occasions over the past few years it was without doubt the tightest and even more musically charged than ever before. It was great to catch up with John Hackett and Nick Fletcher too after the gig and have a good chin wag. Good to talk to Duncan Parsons too and discover his various solo endeavours as a result. There is no doubt whatsoever for me that 2025 has been rich with new music and raw talent. The Prog community is the most wonderful club to be a member of without initiation, fee’s or obligation. I would say that the collective noun for such a group of people is “a vibe”, respectful of one another, generous, yet full of folks rich in character. There are some diamond geezers out there too keeping new and established bands on the road for whom I have most admiration and respect. They are Steve Gould, Danny Mayo, Hue Lloyd Jones, Stephen Lambe, Bob Cheatham and Mike Prendergast.