General Sales Patron Program Friday Preshow

NEARfest typically features a Friday night "preshow" to kick off the weekend. Since 2004, Progressive Arts has promoted a full-scale preshow in the same venue as NEARfest, Zoellner Arts Center's Baker Hall. This arrangement is not only convenient for concert-goers; it allows the production team to take advantage of the same facilities as NEARfest itself. The Progressive Arts preshows employ the same great sound and lighting treatments as well.

In 2004, Canadian Genesis re-creation act The Musical Box presented their spectacular rendition of the "Selling England by the Pound" Tour to a sell-out crowd. In 2005, the first Progressive Legends Showcase was put together featuring Kerry Livgren's Proto-Kaw and the classic Italian symphonic ensemble, PFM, who in their 30-plus year history had only ever played in the United States a few times in the mid-70s. The Progressive Legends Showcase II in 2006 brought together The Tony Levin Band and Canterbury cult favorites Hatfield and the North, another band that had never played the U.S. despite a 30-year history. Fusion was the theme for 2007's preshow with three blazing acts including Magma prodigies One Shot, Danish cult faves Secret Oyster and guitar legend Allan Holdsworth with Jimmy Johnson and Chad Wackerman.