Short Bio
Refestramus was started in May of 2020 by Derek Ferguson as a home studio project during the height of the global COVID pandemic. Derek had previously been in a series of progressive rock bands in his native Chicago and used the extra time afforded by the era of lockdowns to write and record new material. Having been an avid listener of Ian Beabout’s Internet radio program “Prog Rock Deep Cuts”, he reached out to Ian to mix and master the recordings.
Ian introduced Derek to Jerry King, a Wisconsin-based composer and multi-instrumentalist primarily known for his guitar and bass work with Clouds Over Jupiter, Moon Men, and Moon X. Jerry has played bass on all Refestramus recordings including Refestramus’ debut album, Decoupage, which was released in December of 2021.
Besides Jerry, Decoupage featured an international assembly of musicians recruited primarily through the Internet gig website, Fiverr.com. It was warmly received by the Progressive Rock music press, with Peter Thelen of Exposé declaring the album a “solid opening move,” before concluding that he “… look[ed] forward to what comes next.”
Flash forward to 2023 and the ranks of Refestramus have been joined by Derek Pavlic, of Colouratura fame. Ian Beabout, also of Colouratura, is the official producer of the band’s forthcoming album, Intouríst, as well as a part-time flutist and vocalist, as the need arises. Brazilian session keyboards maestro Rogelio Navarro, blues rock vocalist NIDA, and heavy metal vocalist Craig Cairns complete the picture.
The band issued multiple singles in 2023 to give its fans a taste of the new, even “proggier” direction being charted on Intouríst. After the album’s release, they plan to tour extensively in support of it.
Band Members
Craig Cairns – Backing Vocals
Rogelio Desouza – Keyboards
Derek Ferguson – Drums
Denisse Ferrara – Vocals
Jerry King – Bass
Vedrana Lina – Vocals
Dave Newhouse – Accordion
Derek Pavlic – Guitars and Viola
NIDA – Vocals
Album Releases
Intouríst – May 4th, 2024 – Melodic Revolution Records – CD, Digital and Streaming
Decoupage – (2021) Fermez la Bouche Records – CD, Digital and Streaming
Singles & EPs
The Red Apple Single – May 11, 2023
Asuncion Single – March 4, 2023
From the Sublime to the Ridiculous EP – August 30, 2022
I Adore You Single – January 29, 2021
Wasteland, Part 1 Single – October 24, 2020
Refestramus Online
Facebook: https://facebook.com/refestramus
Bandcamp: https://refestramus.bandcamp.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/refestramus/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@refestramus
Twitter: https://twitter.com/refestramus