ProgPower USA
ProgPower USA is a music festival held annually in the United States since 2001. Its upcoming edition, ProgPower USA XXIV is scheduled to take place on September 3–6, 2025. The festival's band selection process focuses on quality over quantity. In addition to the emphasis on the power and progressive metal genres, the festival has branched out into other genres with the inclusion of the "oddball" slot that does not fit the normal motif. ProgPower USA gives bands that have never performed in the States a chance to perform in the country. The festival has been described as a cultural experience for fans with autograph signing sessions, guest appearances, reunions, and meet-and-greets. The festival has including Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray, Nightwish, and Stratovarius.
History
ProgPower USA began in . The very first festival was February 23–24, 2001, in Lansing, Illinois, just outside Chicago, at . The subsequent events have been held in Atlanta, Georgia, at Center Stage Atlanta.Festival founder and promoter, Glenn Harveston's notion of ProgPower USA began over dinner among friends after attending the Powermad festival in Baltimore, Maryland. As the festival progressed, the roster scope diversified with the intent of reaching a larger fan base. The brand's international success is based upon an unofficial partnership with ProgPower Europe. The festival overcame early hardship from an attendance perspective due to the tragic events of September 11 at ProgPower II and flourished with multiple sell-outs over the next 13 years.
In the program for ProgPower XIX, Glenn announced ProgPower XXV will be his final year of the festival.
ProgPower XXI is notorious for being delayed twice by the COVID-19 pandemic and being the first edition to be held in June.
Lineups
February 2001
was held at J.J. Kelley's in Lansing, Illinois, on February 23–24, 2001.| ProgPower USA I | Country of origin |
| Onward | US |
| Etheria | US |
| Power of Omens | US |
| Zero Hour | US |
| Reading Zero | US |
| Ion Vein | US |
| Destiny's End | US |
| Jag Panzer | US |
| Evergrey | Sweden |
| Pain of Salvation | Sweden |
| Symphony X | US |
November 2001
was held at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia on November 9 & 10, 2001.| ProgPower USA II | Country of origin |
| Superior | Germany |
| Balance of Power | England |
| Nightingale | Sweden |
| Spiral Architect | Norway |
| Steel Prophet | US |
| Angel Dust | Germany |
| Ark | Norway |
| Evergrey | Sweden |
| Kamelot | US |
| Symphony X | US |
2002
was held at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 15–16, 2002| ProgPower USA III | Country of origin |
| Zero Hour | US |
| Silent Force | Germany |
| Edguy | Germany |
| Blind Guardian | Germany |
| Pain of Salvation | Sweden |
| Reading Zero | US |
| Threshold | United Kingdom |
| The Devin Townsend Band | Canada |
| Gamma Ray | Germany |
| Angra | Brazil |
;Pre-Show Party
The ProgPower USA III Pre-Show Party was held Thursday November 14, 2002, at The Riviera Club in Atlanta, Georgia.
| Pre-Show Party | Country of origin |
| Cea Serin | US |
| Persephone's Dream | US |
| Magistral | US |
2003
was held on September 5–6, 2003, at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia.| ProgPower USA IV | Country of origin |
| Redemption | US |
| Mercenary | Denmark |
| Vanden Plas | Germany |
| Nightwish | Finland |
| Symphony X | US |
| Pagan's Mind | Norway |
| Secret Sphere | Italy |
| Circle II Circle | US |
| Evergrey | Sweden |
| Rage | Germany |
;Pre-Show Party
The ProgPower USA IV Pre-Show Party was held September 4, 2003, at The Riviera Club in Atlanta, Georgia.
| Pre-Show Party | Country of origin |
| Katagory V | US |
| Stride | US |
| Prymary | US |
2004
ProgPower USA V took place on September 17–18, 2004, at Center Stage Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia.| ProgPower USA V | Country of origin |
| Into Eternity | Canada |
| Dreamscape | Germany |
| Tad Morose | Sweden |
| Kamelot | US |
| Weapons of Mass Destruction | US |
| Adagio | France |
| Wuthering Heights | Denmark |
| Brainstorm | Germany |
| Pain of Salvation | Sweden |
| Edguy | Germany |
;Showcase
The Showcase took place on Thursday September 16, 2004, at The Eleven50 Club.
| Showcase | Country of origin |
| Prototype | US |
| Magistral | US |
| Enertia | US |
| Halcyon Way | US |
2005
ProgPower USA VI took place on September 16–17, 2005 at Center Stage Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia.| ProgPower USA VI | Country of origin |
| Manticora | Denmark |
| Circus Maximus | Norway |
| Orphaned Land | Israel |
| Conception | Norway |
| Angra | Brazil |
| Stride | US |
| Symphorce | Germany |
| Pink Cream 69 | Germany |
| Therion | Sweden |
| Stratovarius | Finland |
;Showcase
The Showcase took place on Thursday September 15, 2005, at The Loft in Atlanta, Georgia.
| Showcase | Country of origin |
| Dreamscape | Germany |
| D.C. Cooper | US |
| Outworld | US |
| Orphaned Land | Israel |
2006
ProgPower USA VII took place on September 15–16, 2006 at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia.| ProgPower USA VII | Country of origin |
| Pyramaze | Denmark |
| Savage Circus | Germany/Sweden |
| Freak Kitchen | Sweden |
| Mercenary | Denmark |
| Evergrey | Sweden |
| Zero Hour | US |
| Vision Divine | Italy |
| Thunderstone | Finland |
| Epica | Netherlands |
| Jørn | Norway |
;Showcase
The Showcase took place on Thursday September 14, 2006, at The Loft in Atlanta, Georgia.
| Showcase | Country of origin |
| Theocracy | US |
| Circus Maximus | Norway |
| Leatherwolf | US |
| Circle II Circle | US |
2007
took place on October 5–6, 2007 at Center Stage Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia.| ProgPower USA VIII | Country of origin |
| Raintime | Italy |
| Communic | Norway |
| Virgin Steele | US |
| Redemption | US |
| Pagan's Mind | Norway |
| Sonata Arctica | Finland |
| Firewind | Greece |
| Threshold | United Kingdom |
| Primal Fear | Germany |
| After Forever | Netherlands |
| All Star Jam | n/a |
The All Star Jam was a collaboration of members of various bands who performed throughout the weekend playing familiar classic metal songs.
;Showcase
The Showcase took place on Thursday October 4, 2007, at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia.
From 2007 forward all Showcases take place at the main Center Stage theater.
| Kick-Off | Country of origin |
| Halcyon Way | US |
| Krucible | US |
| Cellador | US |
| Freak Kitchen | Sweden |
2008
ProgPower USA IX took place on September 26–27, 2008 at Center Stage Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia.| ProgPower USA IX | Country of origin |
| Pathosray | Italy |
| Elvenking | Italy |
| Andromeda | Sweden |
| Iron Savior | Germany |
| Riverside | Poland |
| Amorphis | Finland |
| Saint Deamon | Sweden |
| Spheric Universe Experience | France |
| Rob Rock | US |
| Mustasch | Sweden |
| Jon Oliva's Pain | US |
| Iced Earth | US |
;Kick-Off
This Kick-Off for this year was billed as the Hellish Rock World Tour as Manticora, Gamma Ray and Helloween were on tour at the time and used the Showcase date as a regular tour stop. This event took place in the main Center Stage theater on Thursday September 25, 2008.
| Kick-Off | Country of origin |
| Manticora | Denmark |
| Gamma Ray | Germany |
| Helloween | Germany |
;Mid-Week Mayhem
The first Mid-Week Mayhem at ProgPower USA was held at The Loft (above Center Stage on Wednesday September 24, 2008, in Atlanta, Georgia.
| Mid-Week Mayhem | Country of origin |
| Circle II Circle | US |
| Midnight | US |
| Eclipsed by Sanity | US |