The Utopia Strong

The Utopia Strong originated from an experimental improvised session in Glastonbury on the evening of 2 January 2018.{{Cite web |title=The Utopia Strong and Dextro at The Cluny, Newcastle |url=https://ra.co/events/1356483 |access-date=23 November 2022 |website=Resident Advisor}}{{Cite web |last=Trenwith |first=Roger |date=1 October 2019 |title=The Utopia Strong – The Utopia Strong [plus interview with Steve Davis] |url=https://theprogressiveaspect.net/blog/2019/10/01/the-utopia-strong-the-utopia-strong/ |access-date=24 November 2022 |website=The Progressive Aspect}} Steve Davis, a six-time World Snooker Champion, was recognised for his love of progressive rock, soul and jazz-funk. He booked the French progressive rock band Magma to play three sold-out nights at the Bloomsbury Theatre and later became a DJ with the radio show Interesting Alternative on Phoenix FM.{{Cite web |last=Buchanan |first=John D. |title=The Utopia Strong Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-utopia-strong-mn0003850092/biography |access-date=23 November 2022 |publisher=AllMusic}} At a Magma gig, Davis bonded with Iranian-born musician Kavus Torabi,{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Aidan |date=4 April 2021 |title=Steve Davis: From snooker to DJ to having his own prog rock band. Interesting! |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/sport-opinion/steve-davis-from-snooker-to-dj-to-having-his-own-prog-rock-band-interesting-3188812 |access-date=23 November 2022 |website=The Scotsman}} a storied guitarist with Gong and Cardiacs. Davis and Torabi met Coil's Michael J. York after DJing at the 2017 Glastonbury Festival, and the three decided to form a band.

The Utopia Strong released their self-titled debut album on 13 September 2019 on Rocket Recordings.{{Cite web |last=Matt |first=Butler |date=15 September 2019 |title=Snooker legend Steve Davis and his 'surreal journey' into releasing album of synth music on vinyl |url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/snooker/steve-davis-interview-snooker-utopia-strong-synth-music-vinyl-dj-339047 |access-date=13 November 2022 |website=i}}{{Cite web |last=Ewing |first=Jerry |date=11 June 2019 |title=Steve Davis and Kavus Torabi release first new music from Utopia Strong |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/steve-davis-and-kavus-torabi-release-first-new-music-from-utopia-strong |access-date=20 May 2023 |website=Prog}} The album features a guest vocal appearance by Mediæval Bæbes' Katharine Blake.{{Cite web |last=Martin |first=Liam |title=The Utopia Strong - The Utopia Strong Album Reviews, Songs & More |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-utopia-strong-mw0003291833 |access-date=20 May 2023 |publisher=AllMusic}}

File:The Utopia Strong Live in Cambridge 210323 - 52764589455.jpg in 2023.]]

The Utopia Strong's second album International Treasure was released in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Rob |date=10 June 2022 |title=The Utopia Strong - International Treasure: "a triumph of foraging spontaneity" |url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/the-utopia-strong-international-treasure-a-triumph-of-foraging-spontaneity |access-date=20 May 2023 |website=Prog}} The Quietus listed the album at number 25 on their Albums Of The Year So Far Chart 2022.{{Cite web |last=Turner |first=Luke |date=4 July 2022 |title=The Quietus Albums Of The Year So Far Chart 2022 |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/31727-the-quietus-best-albums-mid-2022 |access-date=20 May 2023 |website=The Quietus}} The band appeared on BBC Breakfast on 25 March 2023.{{Cite web |last=Askew |first=Robin |date=31 March 2023 |title=Review: The Steve Hillage Band/The Utopia Strong, O2 Academy |url=https://www.bristol247.com/culture/music/review-the-steve-hillage-band-the-utopia-strong/ |access-date=20 May 2023 |website=Bristol24/7}} They supported Steve Hillage's 2023 UK tour, with Torabi also a member of Hillage's backing band.{{Cite web |last=Ewing |first=Jerry |date=7 September 2022 |title=Steve Hillage announces 2023 UK tour |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/steve-hillage-announces-2023-uk-tour |access-date=20 May 2023 |website=Prog}}{{Cite web |last=Dickson |first=Jamie |date=18 April 2023 |title=Six-string psychonaut Kavus Torabi on the mythology of Gong, Hotel California moments with Steve Hillage and his epiphany with scales |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/kavus-torabi-gong-the-utopia-strong |access-date=20 May 2023 |website=Guitarist}}

• The Utopia Strong (2019)
• International Treasure (2022)

• Alphabet of the Magi (2020){{Cite web |author=The Utopia Stong| date=13 February 2020 |title=Alphabet of the Magi |url=https://theutopiastrong.bandcamp.com/album/alphabet-of-the-magi |access-date=20 May 2023 |publisher=Bandcamp}}
• Dreamsweeper (2020){{Cite web |author=The Utopia Stong| date=14 July 2020 |title=Dreamsweeper |url=https://theutopiastrong.bandcamp.com/album/dreamsweeper |access-date=20 May 2023 |publisher=Bandcamp}}
• Ninth Art (2021){{Cite web |author=The Utopia Stong| date=4 December 2020 |title=Ninth Art |url=https://theutopiastrong.bandcamp.com/album/ninth-art |access-date=20 May 2023 |publisher=Bandcamp}}
• Gyre (2023){{Cite web |author=The Utopia Stong| date=3 February 2023 |title=Gyre |url=https://theutopiastrong.bandcamp.com/album/gyre |access-date=20 May 2023 |publisher=Bandcamp}}
• The BBC Sessions (2024){{Cite web |last=Ewing |first=Jerry |date=1 February 2024 |title=The Utopia Strong announce new BBC Sessions album |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/the-utopia-strong-announce-new-bbc-sessions-album |access-date=6 March 2024 |website=Prog}}

• "Brainsurgeons 3" (2019, The Utopia Strong){{Cite web |last=Paxton |first=Gillian |date=11 June 2019 |title=LISTEN: Debut Single From The Utopia Strong |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/26595-the-utopia-strong-s-t-kavus-torabi-steve-davis |access-date=20 May 2023 |website=The Quietus}}
• "Konta Chorus" (2019, The Utopia Strong){{Cite web |last=Clarke |first=Patrick |date=13 August 2019 |title=Watch: New Utopia Strong Video |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/26943-the-utopia-strong-konta-chorus |access-date=20 May 2023 |website=The Quietus}}
• "Strange Altar" (2019){{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Briony |date=6 December 2019 |title=The Utopia Strong's track by track guide to their self-titled new album |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/the-utopia-strongs-track-by-track-guide-to-their-self-titled-new-album |access-date=20 May 2023 |website=Louder}}
• "Shepherdess" (2022, International Treasure){{Cite web |last=Ewing |first=Jerry |date=8 March 2022 |title=The Utopia Strong return with video for Shepherdess |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/the-utopia-strong-return-with-video-for-shepherdess |access-date=20 May 2023 |website=Prog}}
• "Castalia" (2022, International Treasure){{Cite web |last=Ewing |first=Jerry |date=10 May 2022 |title=The Utopia Strong release video for optimistic new single Castalia |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/the-utopia-strong-release-video-for-optimistic-new-single-castalia |access-date=20 May 2023 |website=Prog}}
• "Gatekeeper" (2023, Golden Lion Sounds){{Cite web |date=24 February 2023 |title=The Utopia Strong x DBH - GLS 014 {{!}} The Utopia Strong x DBH |url=https://goldenlionsounds.bandcamp.com/album/the-utopia-strong-x-dbh-gls-014 |access-date=19 December 2023 |publisher=Golden Lion Sounds |via=Bandcamp}}
• "Lamp of Glory" (2024, The BBC Sessions){{Cite web |last=Ewing |first=Jerry |date=2 February 2024 |title=New prog music you have to hear from The Pineapple Thief, The Utopia Strong, The C Sides Project and more in Prog's Tracks Of The Week |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/new-prog-music-you-have-to-hear-from-the-pineapple-thief-the-utopia-strong-the-c-sides-project-and-more-in-progs-tracks-of-the-week |access-date=24 March 2024 |website=Prog}}

• "Rechargeable" (2019, with Snapped Ankles){{Cite web |date=20 October 2019 |title=Rechargeable (The Utopia Strong Remix) {{!}} Snapped Ankles, The Utopia Strong |url=https://shop.snappedankles.com/track/rechargeable-the-utopia-strong-remix |access-date=20 May 2023 |publisher=Bandcamp}}

• "Harpies" (2023, Rocket Recordings: Launch300){{Cite web |last=Kilkenny |first=James |date=29 June 2023 |title=Rocket Recordings: Launch300 – Album Review |url=https://louderthanwar.com/rocket-recordings-launch300-album-review/ |access-date=19 December 2023 |website=Louder Than War}}{{Cite web |last=Bočev |first=Danijela |date=30 June 2023 |title=Features {{!}} Reissue Of The Week {{!}} Compilation Of The Week: Rocket Recordings 25th Anniversary Launch300 |url=https://thequietus.com/articles/33118-rocket-recordings-25th-anniversary-launch300-review |access-date=19 December 2023 |website=The Quietus}}

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• [https://theutopiastrong.bandcamp.com/ The Utopia Strong] on Bandcamp
• {{Allmusic |class=artist |id=mn0003850092 |label=The Utopia Strong}}
• {{MusicBrainz artist |id=8d9f371d-bbae-416e-b5e7-861f515cf187 |name=The Utopia Strong}}

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Category:Musical groups established in 2018

Category:British musical trios

Category:British electronic music groups

Category:Psychedelic musical groups

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