There are metal fests and then there are Metal Fests.
ProgPower USA is in the latter category and is, in fact, America’s Premiere Metal Fest. Over the past 10 years, ProgPower USA has hosted bands literally from all over the world, most of them making their U.S. debut in exclusive performances.
Organizer Glenn Harveston recently posted this press release on the ProgPower USA Forum:
In what is believed to be a metal scene first, the promoter of ProgPower USA is officially inviting the general public to follow the festival’s unique mode of operations. Readers will learn what goes on behind the scenes before, during, and after the festival. Updates will include advance practical preparation such as gear, stage logistics, travel notes, and current negotiations/hints for the 2010 roster. Expect live updates from soundchecks, crew updates from the stage during the show, band reactions as they step off stage, backstage gossip, and a post show commentary. To sign up, please visit the PPUSA Twitter page here.
ProgPower USA is a 4-day progressive and power metal festival scheduled for Sept 9th-12th in Atlanta, Georgia. This year’s 10th anniversary show features the following acts:
Fates Warning (U.S. exclusive), Crimson Glory, Brainstorm (U.S. exclusive), Royal Hunt (U.S. exclusive), Sabaton (U.S. exclusive), Pagan’s Mind, Orphaned Land (U.S. exclusive), Circus Maximus (U.S. exclusive), Diablo Swing Orchestra (U.S. exclusive), Mindflow and Cage.
The annual Thursday night Showcase presents Primal Fear, Suspyre, Future’s End, and one other band to be named.
Tickets for all shows are still available. For further information, please visit ProgPower USA.
Mid-Week Mayhem Show: Circus Maximus will play a full electric set consisting of cover tunes and Circus Maximus songs that will NOT be performed on the main stage on Saturday.
THE 2009 INTERVIEWERS
Greg Hasbrouck (“General Zod” on Ultimate Metal) lives in Princeton, New Jersey, with his wife and their two Boxers. He works as a Disaster Recovery Analyst for a Fortune 100 company and is currently working towards an MBA. He’s been a Metal fan since the age of 14. He’s attended every ProgPower since ProgPower II, and has also attended Wacken 2006 and Sweden Rock 2007.
You can connect with Greg on various Ultimate Metal forums or by visiting his Facebook page.
Milton Mendonca (“AngraRULES” on Ultimate Metal) moved to the USA from Brazil in 2000. He currently lives in New Milford, Connecticut, with his girlfriend and their dog, working for an advertisement agency. He earned a degree in Journalism and has been writing for metal publications around the world such as Valhalla and RockHard. He’s been a Metal fan since the age of 13, when he discovered Angra’s Angels Cry and has attended every ProgPower since ProgPower III.
Bill Murphy (“PurpleCrayonWriter” on Ultimate Metal) is a Marketing Communications Consultant and budding screenwriter at work on his third screenplay. He lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his wife and “companion animal” Bradbury, an almost-human Scottish Fold cat. His first ProgPower was III and he’s been a Metal fan since seeing Rush — from the front row! — perform all of 2112 in 1977 and all of Hemispheres in 1978, which is even more amazing since Bill was only three years old at the time. (Not really.) Bill can be reached via his professional web site or by e-mailing him: bill (at) theartofprog (dot) com.
Although 
Thankfully, Greg Hasbrouck (aka "General Zod" on Ultimate Metal) was able to step in and conduct the vast majority (10!) of the interviews for ProgPower USA X. Greg did a tremendous job, and I am in his debt.
In addition, the interview with Mindflow was conducted by Brazil native and long-time fan Milton Mendonca (aka "AngraRULES" on Ultimate Metal).