U.S. Visa Process Claims Latest Victim - Gloryhammer Nixed From ProgPower USA, Replacement Announced

U.K. power metal act Gloryhammer was forced to cancel out on the upcoming sold out annual ProgPower USA festival, which commences on Wednesday, September 7th. The band was slated to perform on Thursday, September 8th as part of Day 2 along with Pyramaze, Circus Maximus and Blind Guardian.

A replacement was announced moments ago - Seattle's Ghost Ship Octavius, which features Ashes of Ares drummer Van Williams (ex-Nevermore).

Gloryhammer released a statement: "My friends, we have grave news. Due to unusual and unprecedented delays in the processing of working visas for the USA necessary to the bands performance, we regret to inform our fans that we will not be performing at Prog Power USA in Atlanta, or at the Whiskey-a-Go-Go in Los Angeles next week. This comes as great disappointment to everyone involved, not least of all us in Gloryhammer, as we have invested vast amounts of time and money in trying to make this happen. In no way, shape or form, are the show promoters responsible for this, and we really hope to make it up to them (and all of you fans) as soon as we can.

"The positive news is that we are planning to make this up early next year with our first full headlining tour in North America...more details to come."

ProgPower USA promoters Milton Mendonca and Nathan Block commented on the addition of Ghost Ship Octavius: "We’d like to welcome GSO to the family and extend our sincere thanks for stepping up to the plate on such short notice."

Ghost Ship Octavius will step into the opening slot for Day 2. The full revised lineup for the festival is:

Wednesday (September 7, 2016):

Lord (Australia)
Stream of Passion (Netherlands)
Spock's Beard (USA)
DragonForce (UK) (headliner)

Thursday (Promoter's Pick Night) (September 8, 2016):

Ghost Ship Octavius (USA)
Pyramaze (Denmark)
Circus Maximus (Norway)
Blind Guardian (Germany) (headliner)

Friday (September 9, 2016):

Ascendia (Canada)
Vanishing Point (Australia)
Freedom Call (Germany)
The Gentle Storm (Netherlands)
Scar Symmetry (Sweden)
Fates Warning (USA) "Awaken the Guardian" in its entirety with John Arch. - a U.S. Exclusive) (headliner)

Saturday (September 10, 2016):

Savage Messiah (UK)
Serious Black (Multinational)
Green Carnation (Norway) ("Light of Day, Day of Darkness" in its entirety. - a U.S. Exclusive)
Refuge (Germany)
Haken (UK)
Devin Townsend (Canada) with special guest, Anneke van Giersbergen (headliner)