Dream Theater/ Opeth: North America tour, May 08

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A quote fresh from Mike Portnoy's own site....complete with extensive news bulletin...

DREAM THEATER’S “PROGRESSIVE NATION 2008” 
featuring OPETH, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME and 3 

North American Tour Dates 
Tues April 29th - Mexico City, Mexico - National Auditorium* 
Fri May 2nd - Los Angeles, CA - Gibson Amphitheater 
Sat May 3rd - Oakland, CA - Paramount Theater 
Mon May 5th - Seattle, WA - Wamu Theater 
Tues May 6th - Vancouver, BC  - Orpheum 
Fri & Sat May 9th & 10th - Calgary, ALB  - Macewan Hall  
Mon May 12th - Minneapolis, MN - Myth 
Tues May 13th - Chicago, IL - Rosemont Theater 
Wed May 14th - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore 
Fri May 16th - Columbus, OH - LC Amphitheater 
Sat May 17th - Cleveland, OH - Time Warner Amphitheater @ Tower City 
Sun May 18th - Albany, NY - The Armory 
Tues May 20th - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theater 
Wed & Thurs May 21st & 22nd - New York, NY - Terminal 5 
Mon May 26th - Washington DC - DAR Constitution Hall 
Tues May 27th - Richmond, VA - The National 
Wed May 28th - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle 
Fri May 30th - Miami, FL - The Fillmore 
Sat May 31st - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock 
Sun June 1st - Tampa, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall 
Wed June 4th - San Juan, Puerto Rico - Coliseo of Puerto Rico * 

* the Mexico and Puerto Rico dates will be Dream Theater with special guests Between The Buried And Me (Opeth and 3 will NOT be appearing on these 2 dates)  

New York progressive metal pioneers DREAM THEATER are set to unveil the maiden voyage of “PROGRESSIVE NATION”. A package tour they will headline that will also feature the talents of OPETH, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME and 3. 

The tour is the brainchild of DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy who explains: “I’ve been wanting to assemble a package tour like this for many years now. With all of the festivals and package tours that go through America, I’ve been talking with our manager and agent for over 10 years now about doing something that focuses on the more progressive, musician-oriented side of hard rock and metal. I decided it was time to stop talking the talk, lace up and finally walk the walk” 

While DREAM THEATER co-headlined 2005’s GIGANTOUR along side MEGADETH, as well as embarking on previous co-headlining runs with both QUEENSRYCHE and JOE SATRIANI and opening slots for YES, DEEP PURPLE and IRON MAIDEN, they have primarily built their 22 year career on the road playing solely to their own audience.  Portnoy comments: “I’ve always prided myself on personally hand picking new and exciting opening acts to open for DREAM THEATER in the past. Bands such as PORCUPINE TREE, SYMPHONY X, SPOCK’S BEARD, FATES WARNING, PAIN OF SALVATION and KING’S X. In all of these cases, it was important for me to pick bands that I respect and admire but also ones that I know our fans will enjoy. And I think playing with DT has helped expand all of those band’s fanbases as a direct result. I am hoping PROGRESSIVE NATION will continue to do the same thing in offering an audience for more daring and experimental acts that otherwise may not get the mainstream exposure they so rightly deserve.” 

Joining the bill for this inaugural run is Sweden’s legendary OPETH who have been enjoying an ever-growing and expanding audience of their own for many years now. DT’s Roadrunner Records label-mates will be ready to unleash their new album "Watershed" next spring and PROGRESSIVE NATION should be a great launching pad for their next World Tour cycle. Guitarist/Vocalist Mikael Akerfeldt adds: "We're very excited about this upcoming tour with DREAM THEATER. It will be the first tour that we're doing in support of our upcoming record, and also somewhat of a dream come true personally as I've been a fan of theirs for a long time. It's quite intimidating to be on the bill with such amazing musicians but obviously we'll try and give them a run for their money and pull out a few nice licks of our own. I guess we'll need to practice a little bit for this....how boring! Yet, I can't wait for this tour to start and I'm sure we'll have a blast with the DT guys as well as together with the other bands on the bill!"  

North Carolina’s BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME are enjoying rave reviews and critical acclaim for their latest CD “Colors” and are looking forward to sharing the stage each night with both DREAM THEATER and OPETH. Vocalist/Keyboardist Tommy Rogers comments: "We are very excited to be touring with two bands that have been such an integral part of our musical upbringing. It is a wonderful opportunity to have our music heard by new ears." 

Also on the bill with their unique blend of pop, funk and hard rock is upstate New York’s 3 who issued the following statement: "3 is very pleased to announce its participation in the PROGRESSIVE NATION tour. For well over a decade DREAM THEATER has been the vanguard of progressive rock and we are completely psyched to flex with these heavyweights, playing much of our new record "The End is Begun". This package will rock and awe fans everywhere as one of the most important tours of the year. It's a progressive way of music, a progressive way of life....welcome to the PROGRESSIVE NATION tour.”  

DREAM THEATER are currently in the middle of their “Chaos In Motion” World Tour which has already traveled extensively throughout Europe, North America, Asia and Australia in support of their latest Roadrunner Records CD “Systematic Chaos”. The World Tour will continue through March in South America before concluding with PROGRESSIVE NATION in North America. 

Portnoy hopes that this first venture of PROGRESSIVE NATION will prove to be a success that can enable himself and DREAM THEATER to continue the package into future years and begin a tradition that musicians and fans alike can count on for quality musicianship and artistic integrity on future tours. 