Prog Rock Alley on CFRO 100.5 FM

01/04/2026

It's the last show of 2025! I started off with an ambient atmospheric winter-sounding playlist, but it didn't take long before I started brining in some harder edge stuff. Eh, go with what works. As per usual I close out on Auld Lang Syne, and I think I get something new out of it each time I hear it! How was your New Years?

Special thanks to AzaZello, Cynic, Mr. Bungle, Megafauna, Meltt, Babe Corner, Alan Parsons, Plants and Animals, Kansas, B***y and the Bass, and (just for fun) Hanni El Khatib

Down by the waterfront by the West Coast Express is a side street full of vinyl and digital archives. Steve Ferguson and his alley rats will meet you there for Prog Rock Alley, an exploration of progressive rock in all its forms from its inception in the 60’s to the present day. Art rock, prog met...

12/28/2025

Did you miss the Christmas special? Or were you part of the livestream? Here's your chance to tune in to the other side and hear the completed show! There was a freakin' sexy snowman, some ba*****ed ladies, and... uh.... what were we talking about again?

Special thanks to Robbie Robertson, The Cavernous, Bruce Cockburn, Ba*****ed Ladies, Kate Bush, Marillion, Frank Zappa, Green Seagull, Alan White & Chris Squire, and The Arrogant Worms

It's our annual Christmas special! Down by the waterfront by the West Coast Express is a side street full of vinyl and digital archives. Steve Ferguson and his alley rats will meet you there for Prog Rock Alley, an exploration of progressive rock in all its forms from its inception in the 60’s to ...

12/24/2025

Hey kids, in ONE HOUR we're doing our annual Christmas special! And I'm going to attempt to livestream it here!

Stay posted....

12/23/2025

While get all snuggled and ready for tonight's Christmas special, why not take a listen to last week's episode? Prog Rock Alley Rat Doug made this "just because" playlist with a lot of experimental influences. It's a pretty wild ride!

Special thanks to Scripture, BRAIDS, Animal Collective, I, The Mars Volta, INTERVALS, Enigma, Quarkspace, and Liquid Tension Experiment

Down by the waterfront by the West Coast Express is a side street full of vinyl and digital archives. Steve Ferguson and his alley rats will meet you there for Prog Rock Alley, an exploration of progressive rock in all its forms from its inception in the 60’s to the present day. Art rock, prog met...

12/12/2025

For some reason, I skewed this episode towards French-Canadian fusion and prog metal. It just kind of naturally happened that way. Still there's a little bit of something for everyone this episode, in my humble opinion!

Special thanks to Ling Peng & Nick Fletcher, In Virtue, The Ceres Phenomenon, Maneige, Opus 5, Syncope, and The Reticent

Down by the waterfront by the West Coast Express is a side street full of vinyl and digital archives. Steve Ferguson and his alley rats will meet you there for Prog Rock Alley, an exploration of progressive rock in all its forms from its inception in the 60’s to the present day. Art rock, prog met...

12/08/2025

Happy Vinyl Day! I kick off this episode with the long-awaited playing of a record from my collection. But then we get into some more experimental stuff and another song from an album I really should have bought by now.

Special thanks to The Alan Parsons Project, Cue The Sun, Homme, Kids Eat Crayons, Geddy Lee, Erewän, Possum, FM, Bakelit, and Hoopy Frood

Down by the waterfront by the West Coast Express is a side street full of vinyl and digital archives. Steve Ferguson and his alley rats will meet you there for Prog Rock Alley, an exploration of progressive rock in all its forms from its inception in the 60’s to the present day. Art rock, prog met...

12/05/2025

As promised! Today is Bandcamp Friday, so Bandcamp is waiving their cut of any album purchased on their site! As such, I'd like to highlight this charity album released by Bad Dog Promotions.

2112 Days of Christmas

This Christmas, we wanted to bring a little relief to children who are suffering. However modest it may seem, the entire Bad Dog Promotions family has united around a heartfelt mission: a double charity compilation (31 tracks) titled 2112 Days of Christmas, with every single penny going towards funding a magician’s visit to a children’s hospital. ✨

You can download the compilation by donating any amount you choose — every contribution, no matter the size, truly makes a difference.

All proceeds will be donated to Spread a Smile, supporting bedside entertainer visits for hospitalised children.

Spread a Smile brings joy and laughter to seriously ill young people and their families during long and difficult hospital stays. Every year, the charity reaches thousands of children and teenagers through hospital visits, outings, special events and creative arts initiatives.

31 track album

12/05/2025

Last week I did a little bit of catchup, but I also dusted off some of my older catalogue to bring back into the spotlight. But not just that - I wanted to highlight a Christmas charity compilation put out by Bad Dog Promotions. I'm going to make a dedicated post about it tomorrow to take advantage of Bandcamp Friday, but hey if the mood strikes you RIGHT NOW, go support a good cause!

Special thanks to GLAUBER OLIVEIRA, Nad Sylvan, Lunar, The Arborists, Atsuko Chiba, Cepheidae Variable, Johan Steensland, and Fond of Tigers

Down by the waterfront by the West Coast Express is a side street full of vinyl and digital archives. Steve Ferguson and his alley rats will meet you there for Prog Rock Alley, an exploration of progressive rock in all its forms from its inception in the 60’s to the present day. Art rock, prog met...

11/19/2025

I get a lot of requests from talented artists who are eager to share their music with you and this ep is an example of me playing catch up with some of those requests! Bandcamp is a great resource to check all these peeps out, and I actively encourage you to take a gander!

Special thanks to Space Traffic, Increase The Angle, Head Spin Music, The Cavernous, Pareidolon, Massimo Pieretti Artist ft Lorenzo "Larry" Cortoni - Artist page, Rick Maddocks, and Pinn Dropp

Down by the waterfront by the West Coast Express is a side street full of vinyl and digital archives. Steve Ferguson and his alley rats will meet you there for Prog Rock Alley, an exploration of progressive rock in all its forms from its inception in the 60’s to the present day. Art rock, prog met...

11/16/2025

On Tuesday it was Remembrance Day, and Prog in general tends to be very critical of war and the military (often times rightly so). But why? So I encourage one and all to meditate on this with me while we see what these artists have to say.

Special thanks to Kasabian, Pink Floyd, RUSH, Hamadryad, Handsome Furs, and YES (official)

Our Remembrance Day special! Down by the waterfront by the West Coast Express is a side street full of vinyl and digital archives. Steve Ferguson and his alley rats will meet you there for Prog Rock Alley, an exploration of progressive rock in all its forms from its inception in the 60’s to the pr...

11/08/2025

Twice a year we do a fundraising drive to keep the station afloat! In this episode, I challenge YOU.... to donate $1.75. Or more if you want. And you know what, if you buy a membership you can have voting powers in our AGM later this month! What's not to love? Find out more in our ep this week!

Special thanks to EL VY, Merry Cherry, The Miracle Seeds, Pontésable, Superfluous Motor, Phaeton, SSB - Sloane Square Band, Van der Graaf Generator, Neural Mass and Naked Elf

Down by the waterfront by the West Coast Express is a side street full of vinyl and digital archives. Steve Ferguson and his alley rats will meet you there for Prog Rock Alley, an exploration of progressive rock in all its forms from its inception in the 60’s to the present day. Art rock, prog met...

11/01/2025

Hey, it's our annual Halloween special! It's pretty nutty!! Why not include this in your night's playlist?

Special thanks to Tim Curry, Melodic Energy Commission, Midlake, Howdytoons, Sausage (spinoff of Primus!), clown core, The Vampires Of Dartmoore (a staple!), Frank Zappa, Archspire, Chad Vangaalen, David Bowie, Bill Bruford, Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of The Worlds, and Jeff Richmond

It's the 2025 Halloween Special!! Down by the waterfront by the West Coast Express is a side street full of vinyl and digital archives. Steve Ferguson and his alley rats will meet you there for Prog Rock Alley, an exploration of progressive rock in all its forms from its inception in the 60’s to t...