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Few concert experiences can match the grandeur of Ayreon's Live Beneath the Waves show at 013 in Tilburg, the Netherlands, from September 15th to 17th, 2023. Headed by the musical mastermind Arjen Lucassen, Ayreon brought together a constellation of renowned talents from the metal community, including luminaries like Hansi Kursch (Blind Guardian), Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), and Tom Englund (Evergrey).

The lineup, a veritable who's who of the metal world, also featured Ayreon alumni like Anneke Van Giersbergen (VUUR/ex-The Gathering) and Damian Wilson (Arena/ex-Threshold). Notably, a new addition to this extraordinary cast was Timo Sommers (ex-Delain), who took over guitar duty from Ferry Duijsens. The concert also showcased other virtuoso musicians such as Marcel Coenen (ex-Lemur Voice) on guitar and Ed Warby (ex-Gorefest) on drums, adding further depth and power to the performance. 

This unforgettable series of nights of music showcased their collective virtuosity and creativity, bringing Ayreon's iconic album 01011001 to life on stage. The full cast, listed below, needs to be seen to be believed.

One of the major highlights of the nights was Brittany Slayes from Unleash The Archers, who demonstrated to many why Arjen Lucassen brought her into his recent Star One album and this series of shows. Her stunning performance left a lasting impression on the audience, proving her exceptional talent and the wisdom of her inclusion in the Ayreon lineup.

The visual spectacle of the nights was nothing short of astonishing. The pyrotechnics, including CO2 jets, were not only dazzling but perfectly in sync with the music, adding an extra layer of excitement. The LED panels were strategically placed throughout the industrial-looking framework, creating amazing visuals. However, it was the incredible laser show that truly stole the show. It literally made you feel as though you were beneath the waves, creating a mesmerizing, moving mesh in the air. 

The combination of powerful music and these breathtaking visual effects made the entire event, to quote Arjen -- an amazing flight in space."

Check out more of Justin’s work at amplifiedexposure.com.

Full Cast
Tom Englund
Daniel Gildenlöw
Hansi Kursch 
Jonas Renkse
Anneke van Giersbergen 
Simone Simons 
Wudstik
Marjan Welman
Liselotte Hegt
Maggy Luyten
Phideaux Xavier
Arjen Lucassen

Special Guests
Damian Wilson
Brittney Slayes
Micheal Mills
John Jaycee Cuijpers

Backing Vocals
Marcela Bovio
Irene Jansen
Jan Willem Ketelaers

Band
Keys: Joost van den Broek
Drums: Ed Warby
Guitar: Marcel Coenen
Guitar: Timo Somers
Bass: Johan van Stratum

Ensemble
Flute: Jeroen Goossens
Violin: Ben Mathot
Cello: Jurriaan Westerveld