Art Rock Circus

Art Rock Circus
Art Rock Circus Album Releases (Heavens Cafe, Heavens Cafe Live, Tell A Vision, A Passage To Clear, Variations on a Dream
Background information
Origin	Las Vegas
Genres	Hard rock Progressive rock Folk-rock
Years active	1994–Present

Art Rock Circus is a progressive rock band that originated with the purpose of performing the John Miner inspired Rock Opera Heavens Cafe in Las Vegas during 1996. The band recorded both a studio and a live album by the same title and later released both recordings in 2000 on the Tributary Music Label.

from their official website

Release Date 1996

The Nucleus of Heavens Cafe was created from left over tracks and outtakes from the Mantra Sunrise recording sessions in California. The band separated due to non musical commitments and Miner relocated to Las Vegas Nevada. After a year of writing and composing supplementary material, a concept album was recorded with new musicians. The original album Heavens Cafe basically served as a constructive framework for what would become a live staging of Heavens Cafe in Las Vegas.

Release Date 2000

After a meeting with promoter and financier Mike Lewis, a cast of (34) dancers, actors, musicians and lighting/sound specialists collaborated and secured dates and the Flamingo Theater, Huntridge Theater, and Charleston Performing Arts Center. The first run was directed by Kristine Keppel a veteran performer from the Folies Bergère along with choreography by Charis Wallace who had recently finished up work with Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway in New York City

The story and concept revolved around the main character "Lark" who after living a decadent lifestyle on earth, is forced to examine his prior life as the "Classical Man" his alter ego "Kral" (Lark spelled backwards) his potential better self while being instructed by his "Guardian Angel"

The music is generally considered progressive rock due to its complexity, use of odd time signatures and John Miner's unusual alternative guitar tunings.

In 2004 Art Rock Circus then performed the rock opera Heavens Cafe again in Los Angeles in conjunction with Insurgo Theater. The line up from those performances included Ken Jaquess of K2 on bass guitar.