BW&BK; has received the following on the 2008 edition of ProgPower USA:

At 4 PM today (January 14th) festival organizer Glenn Harveston announced ICED EARTH as the headliner of this year's event, to be held September 26th - 27th, at Center Stage, in Atlanta, GA. It will be a rare opportunity to see the band, now that they are restricted in the amount of touring they can undergo, due to the return of vocalist Matt Barlow. In other new, ASTRAL DOORS has been replaced by ROB ROCK.

Iced Earth founder, Jon Schaffer had the following to say regarding the festival: "Well, it's been a long time coming, but things have finally lined up right for usto be able to do Glenn's festival. It's truly an honor for Iced Earth to play theProgPower USA festival. I flew down several years ago to check it out and it isdefinitely a top notch operation. It's really a model for the way festivals shouldbe run, good people with integrity make all the difference in any organization, and Glenn and his crew are all that and more. This is something that we've wanted to do for a long time and it's finally going to work out perfectly for our plans in 2008. Part 2 of the Something Wicked epic will be out right around this time and it willbe a killer celebration! This will be very cool, and a good time will be had by all! We look forward to seeing you there!"

“I am beyond excited to have America’s premiere metal band on stage at America’s premiere metal festival”, said promoter Glenn Harveston. I may be the promoter, but I’m just as big a fanboy as everyone else in wanting to see them here in Atlanta. I want to personally thank Jon Schaffer for believing in me and the festival.

ProgPower USA IX marks the first confirmed show with returning vocalist Matt Barlow to the group.

Joining Iced Earth at the festival are Florida’s Jon Oliva’s Pain, Poland’s Riverside, Germany’s Iron Savior, Denmark’s Volbeat, Sweden’s Andromeda, Italy’s Elvenking, France’s Spheric Universe Experience, Austria’s Serenity, and Italy’s Pathosray.

The second festival headliner is scheduled to be announced within the next few weeks.

Harveston also has announced a roster change, “I’m afraid that Astral Doors will not be able to make their scheduled appearance. This is 100% my fault as I knew there was a risk involved with booking them so early. I appreciate the professionalism the band has shown and can now announce that they are the first band confirmed for ProgPower USA X. Florida’s Rob Rock has graciously stepped into their former slot.”

Tickets for ProgPower USA IX go on sale March 1st and limited to 900 tickets. Advance gold badges are sold-out for the seventh consecutive year. For further information including advertisement and sponsorship details, visit www.progpowerusa.com.