The new project The Gentle Storm, where Arjen Lucassen (Ayreon, Star One, Guilt Machine) joins forces with Anneke van Giersbergen (The Gathering, Devin Townsend), has finally set an official release date for their anticipated debut album. The Diary will be released on the 23rd of March 2015 in Europe through Inside Out Music. But there is more. They have also confirmed that in advance of The Gentle Storm's full band shows, Arjen will join Anneke for a select few European live acoustic dates in what will be quite a rare and special occasion.

Anneke had this to say: "I'm very excited that Arjen has agreed to join me for these acoustic shows. I will play a solo set and halfway through the show Arjen will join me on stage. We'll perform some Ayreon classics together and premiere a couple of songs that will be on our upcoming The Gentle Storm album. This will be a unique opportunity to catch us performing together and I look forward to sharing the stage with Arjen a lot!"

A full all-star band will go out without Arjen in March and April, and the confirmed dates and band line-up can be found below. The album release show in Amsterdam on March 26th is the only date where Arjen will make a special appearance on stage.




Acoustic shows with Arjen Lucassen:

February 17 - Hungary, Budapest, Planetarium
February 19 - Romania, Bucharest, Hard Rock Cafe
February 20 - Bulgaria, Sofia, TBC
February 22 - Germany, Berlin, K17
February 28 - Poland, Poznan, Pod Minoga

Full band shows:

26/3/15 - Melkweg, Amsterdam - The Netherlands
28/3/15 - ROCK Ittervoort Festival, Ittervoort - The Netherlands
3/4/15 - Hedon, Zwolle - The Netherlands
3-5/4/15 - Paaspop Festival, Schihndel - The Netherlands
11/4/15 - Paard van Troje, Den Haag - The Netherlands
22/4/15 - Divan Du Monde, Paris - France
23/4/15 - The Garage, London - UK
24/4/15 - The Musician, Leicester - UK
25/4/15 - The Roadhouse, Manchester - UK
26/4/15 - Prog-résiste Convention Festival, Soignies - Belgium

The Gentle Storm live:

Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering) - vocals

Merel Bechtold (Purest Of Pain, MaYaN) - guitars

Ferry Duijsens (Anneke Van Giersbergen, ex-Dreadlock Pussy) - guitars

Ed Warby (Hail Of Bullets, Ayreon, ex-Gorefest) - drums

Johan van Stratum (Stream Of Passion) - bass

Joost van den Broek (producer, ex-After Forever) - keyboards

Marcela Bovio (Stream Of Passion) - background vocals

Album cover by Alexandra V. Bach

Source:	insideoutmusic.com
Band profile:	The Gentle Storm