Sat 07 Dec 2024, 20:00 – Melodic art-rock by Anton Roolaart

Clouds (youtube.com)

Anton's acoustic sets showcases his original melodic art-rock music as well as some covers with pleasant vocals, guitars, and using sound effects presenting the listener with atmospheric rock songs.   His lyrics tell stories of love, relationships, and adventure - some based on personal experiences, others not.  

Anton Roolaart is a Dutch-American solo artist known for his contributions to the symphonic and art-rock genres.  Although he and his family is Dutch, he was born in Tehran, Iran, but a year later his family moved back to the Netherlands.  Then some years later, Anton and his family moved once again to the USA where he lived most of his life, he most recently lived in New York City.  However, Anton'd life journey moved him back to The Netherlands several years ago and he has now made Amsterdam his home.  

Anton started playing and studying classical guitar at the age of 13 when his mother bought him his first guitar.  As a teenager and young adult, he expanded his musical skills writing art-rock songs and playing various guitars, as well as bass, electronic keyboards and piano.  Much of his original music is not mainstream. He says his guitar style is very much influenced by the guitar style of Steve Howe, the guitarist from the band Yes which Anton followed at the time.  Upon hearing his albums, it's easy to see that Anton's original music is rooted in the classic rock era of the 70's, which embraced artists such as Pink Floyd, Yes, Genesis, and Bowie. Anton also loves the technical side of recording, studied sound engineering in college, and has always had his own recording studio.  Now an established composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, he still enjoys the guitar as his primary instrument, as well as singing.  He has established a distinctive musical style characterized on his albums by atmospheric soundscapes and layers, symphonic rock elements, lush keyboards, and intricate guitar riffs, complimented by his singing, and with contributions from some talented musicians that he worked with over the years.

Anton's performances span solo acoustic sets to full-band shows with talented musicians, gracing venues and progressive rock festivals across the USA, Canada, and Europe.  In September 2024, Anton performs in Toledo, Spain at the MoonJune Festival with other iconic progressive rock artists, such as former  King Crimson members David Cross and Bill Bruford.   Also notable, Anton has been a significant supporter of progressive rock artists and the prog community; he founded and operated ProgRockRadio.com, a popular online streaming radio station dedicated to the genre, which he ran for a decade until its closure in 2016. Anton's dedication to his craft and his community has solidified his place in the world of progressive rock.  

Anton has two critically acclaimed albums to his name—"Dreamer" (2007, Umbrello Records, London) and "The Plight of Lady Oona" (2014, self-released), both of which obtained many positive reviews by critics in the genre.  And will be releasing his highly anticipated 3rd album soon.  One can find Anton's music online at popular streaming services under his own name.

Anton also likes to dance Tango and one may catch him on the dance floor at a milonga here in Amsterdam.

Artist web site:  AntonRoolaart.com

Other recent videos (**filmed in Amsterdam this year): https://youtu.be/Xl30JdAt4Nc

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/antonroolaartmusic

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anton.roolaart/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/12bDHrpcwbzlFgoXZmf4Ie

Reverbnation: http://www.reverbnation.com/antonroolaart

Artist Profile for Progressive Rock (Progarchives): https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=2949

Bandcamp: https://antonroolaart.bandcamp.com/