The members of the original Central Committee have been followers of and participants in the Seattle music scene for decades, and we recognized that, as vibrant as the scene may be, there was a distinct lack of opportunities for musicians whose work stretches beyond the typical boundaries of mainstream genres, be they rock, jazz, classical, electronic, or anything else.
The initial idea came about from conversations centered around the Zero G Concert Series, which presented creative, genre-defying artists, mainly at a now-defunct club called Mars Bar. Dennis Rea, John Reagan, and Jon Davis agreed that a more formal setting, more like a concert than a gig at a bar, was needed. We set about trying to make it happen.
Luckily, we made connections at the Columbia City Theater, which proved to be the perfect venue for our dream events, with a sizeable stage and professional lights and sound. Our first event was staged in 2013, and featured nationally known artists like Mirthkon and Thinking Plague, an Italian artist, Jolanda (AKA She Owl), and a number of local groups. It went well enough that we decided to do it again.
Since that time, we have presented full festivals in 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2019, as well as a number of one-off events billed as “Seaprog Presents.” We have hosted artists from Mexico, Sweden, England, Canada, and all around the United States. We’re not much for labeling music, but you could say that our presentations included old-school and new-school progressive rock, progressive metal, space rock, Berlin School electronic music, chamber rock, experimental pop, freak-folk, improvisation, and much more.
We were already in planning mode for the 2020 festival when COVID-19 came along, forcing the cancellation of the festival. Unfortunately, the Columbia City Theater, which had been our primary home from the beginning, did not survive the pandemic closure.
Coming out of the COVID-19 interruption, we have struggled to find a new venue, but we are determined to make something happen in 2025. The original Central Committee has expanded its membership, and we have a newfound energy.