HARMONY IN DIVERSITY

Hi folks, we are still here....although it has been a while since the site was last updated. Check out Pete's MySpace site for his latest news.

Work continues on the next CD which will hopefully be completed before the London olympics in 2012!

Apologies to those you who have attempted to contact us at our contact e-mail address, which we have now corrected.

A video compiled by our friend Roger at CO3TV is due to be edited, along with interview footage, initially for release as a limited edition via various websites in the near future.

Dave returned to Eastern Europe at the end of April for a guest appearance in Transylvania with Hungarian Proggers Yesterdays. Meanwhile, mixing and editiing of recordings from the Budapest gig are still ongoing, but may take longer than anticipated due to current time restrictions

Muff and I took a trip down to deepest South Wales last night to watch and hang out with Peter, Nick, David and Jamie, the rookie roadie. It was an exciting journey down that involved a left turn into the middle of nowhere, negotiating a very dodgy road around on the very edge of a very dodgy mountain and skulking around the garden of a hotel that we suspected was someone's house and not a hotel at all.

The support acts for the night were (we later found out after meeting them in the bar) Chris and Christina, from Magenta and Ezra. After chatting to Chris, we decided that we really should go and see Magenta the next time they were around.

Harmony in Diversity is an improvisational band, taking their cues from each other; usually Nick, the bass player or
David, the drummer, begin a piece with a basic motif around which a piece of music develops. This produces many sublime moments, some truly exciting moments and some moments when it doesn't quite, er, work! The point is that absolutely anything can happen.

What HiD also does is show just what a great guitarist Peter Banks is. I can't remember seeing a guitarist so inventive - either with soundscapes, or the ability to take the basic of licks and develop it into a tour de force. The rythm section of Nick and David works so well. This was only Davd's third gig, but Muff and I both commented on how much he has added to this band.

We had a great night in their company and arrived back in the Midlands at some stupid hour, minus one windscreen wiper that was stolen while we were parked.

Go and see HiD! (Jonah. Yesfans.com)

Our warmest thanks go to all those responsible for the planning and execution of the event, that means the members of Yesterdays and Flamborough Head and particularly Eszter, Istvan and Joseph, whose efforts in the months up to the gig, during the event and after it, were the very reason it worked so well. The sound, lighting and stage technicians, and all the staff on Ship A38 did us all proud. Heart-felt thanks go out to Attila and Alexa at the Star Hotel for putting up with us!

On Sunday we boarded the Ship A38 on the River Danube in Budapest, and took to the stage alongside Flamborough Head and Yesterdays. A mini-Progfest!

This was an amazing weekend: Everyone we met was friendly, helpful and supportive. There was plenty of hard work but just as much laughter, and certainly as much talent!. Oh yes! there was also plenty of food!. Hotel accomodation was excellent. Good facilities: Well stocked bar, speedy elevators, clean showers, and of course channel '0' on Hungarian TV! (Pete will explain that one!)

As for playing on the Ship A38, that was an experience to remember, the stage being perfectly large enough for any band, and the audience area built to accomodate up to 600 people. The back-stage artists bar is the old ships engine room (engine and control gear still there!)

With a non-stop display of musical craftmanship, YESTERDAYS kicked off with their weaving dynamics and powerful (enchanting) stage presence. This, I believe is a band you need to SEE as well as HEAR. They played material from their newly released album; 'MOONLIT GARDEN' (available from their website, and due for global release soon)

FLAMBOROUGH HEAD were next up, with their awesome power and subtle blends of unforgettable melodies. This was prog played straight down the line. Their sound had that 'uplifting' quality which they produce so naturally. Check out their album: 'TALES OF IMPERFECTION'

If these two bands were a hard act to follow, then it was probably wise that HARMONY IN DIVERSITYgot up on stage to improvise!! Obviously I can't be very objective about how we played, (see the Yesterdays link below for something more objective) but we did manage to pull a few interesting ideas out of the muddle of our collective minds, ideas which we are currently sifting through for the next album. I must make the confession that in an improv session recently, we took a trip down memory lane, with a version of a track from the 1973 'Two Sides of Peter Banks' and that did creep out during the set!! I think we then drifted into the 'Pink Panther' theme....Mmmmm strange things do happen!

All who took part in the event have made it clear how much they enjoyed themselves. Nick, Peter and I were no exeption. Indeed, it was a pleasure and a privelage to get to play alongside Flamborough Head and Yesterdays; a festival we all enjoyed, a venue we'll certainly remember, and people we'll never forget!

PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE YESTERDAYS WEBSITE FOR MORE INFO, AND A REVIEW OF THE MUSIC

It's been a long break but here's the latest news: Since Christmas we've been piecing together tracks from past gigs and improv' sessions with a view to making our next CD available as soon as possible. We'll be getting together again this week to record new material (whatever that might be!), and to ensure we are on form for upcoming gigs.

Like most of the world's population, MySpaceMusic has caught up wih us. You are probably aware of Peter's MySpace site, and, having finally seen the light, Dave has just addded his.

We have begun putting tracks together for the next CD, which should be available at our upcoming gigs as well as online

Pete has been busy over the past week or so doing interviews for a couple of upcoming documentary releases; First off is an interview for a documentary on Pink Floyds 'Meddle' Album, and this week Peter will be contributing to a forthcoming Yes documentary.

We've been negotiating with venues and promoters for gigs in early 2007 and so far we can confirm the following dates: Prior to the Blackwood Miners' Institute on 25th March, we move into Europe on the 25th February with a gig on board the 'Ship A38' (on the River Danube!) in Budapest, Hungary. There, we are sharing the bill with the excellent Hungarian band 'Yesterdays' and the highly regarded Flamborough Head Other dates awaiting confirmation are; Rotherham (South Yorkshire, Feb 10th) and in May Dagenham (Essex, TBC)

05 October 2006
Regular visitors to the site will have noticed that our pages are growing, We've added sections for news, purchasing the CD, forthcoming gigs and links to websites and individuals kind enough to review our work. We are in the process of selecting audio to upload, so you'll be able to hear clips from the Trying CD and future material, as it becomes available.

In an earlier news bulletin, we mentioned a gig to be hosted by the Islwyn Guitar club. Although it's a long way off yet, they have today confirmed the exact date and venue. It will take place on Friday 23 March 2007 at the Blackwood Miners Institute Blackwood. Gwent. Support will be provided by EZRA, one of Wales' finest prog bands. (Other acts are being negotiated, we'll let you know as soon as we do!)

18 September 2006
Harmony in Diversity have a new drummer / percussionist, Dave Speight (a.k.a Jick). In addition to his rhythmic and percussive skills, he's also a formidable chauffer and claims to know how to update the website! The new line-up have been in the studio preparing for the dates in October

05 September 2006
Peter will be doing an interview with Mark Deren for the Mark From Holland show on Radio Heemskerk, which can be found on 104.5 (cable) and 107.4 (ether). The interview is scheduled to take place on Sunday 10 September shortly after 7pm BST (8pm GMT)

Another date has been confirmed:

Sunday 15 October 2006 Club Riga, Southend supported by Whimwise.

18 August 2006
The band have two more dates for your delectation:

Saturday 14 October 2006 With Whimwise at Herringthorpe Leisure Centre, Rotherham, courtesy of The Classic Rock Society

19 June 2006
Andrew Booker has ended his involvement with Harmony In Diversity, following the planned appearance at RoSfest which was eventually cancelled. Peter and Nick are continuing with Harmony In Diversity.

25 March 2006
Harmony In Diversity have just played three improvised shows over the last week as part of the 3 Of The Essence mini-tour. These featured Peter on guitar and guitar synth, Andrew on electronic drums and Nick on bass.

You can read Andrew's account of the three days on the