Article Contributed by Leighton Media
Published on 2026-03-14
Chicago-based progressive rock project Refestramus return this week with their third studio album, Morri’s Rock Boutique, a nine-track release arriving March 20, 2026 on Melodic Revolution Records. The album will be available on all streaming platforms as well as digital download and CD.
Early reactions to the record have been enthusiastic. Prog UK calls the album “enjoyably vibrant and hooky,” while Echoes and Dust praises its “cinematic landscape with its surrealistic wonders, ghost-town amusement parks, and the haunting ghost that spooks the location.” Powerplay writes the album features “grown up prog full of great musicianship and songwriting.”
The album can be ordered on digital and CD at: https://refestramus.bandcamp.com/album/morri-s-rock-boutique
Morri’s Rock Boutique charts a path through collapse and illusion toward clarity—where the joke turns serious and the idea emerges that right and wrong still exist, and we remain accountable to them.
A concept album about surviving the absurd emotionally, spiritually, and politically, Morri’s Rock Boutique moves through storms of loss, collapse, and memory toward moments of humor, tenderness, and human connection. Blending folklore, mental health, myth, and modern life into an eclectic progressive rock soundscape, the record explores the fragile beauty of becoming—not perfection, but refinement.
Across the album, each song presents its own vignette. “Storms” frames a human life like a thunderstorm—powerful, beautiful, and temporary. “The Lucky Ones” nods to the Sermon on the Mount’s upside-down blessings and features Crack the Sky guitarist Rick Witkowski. Much of the album was recorded at Witkowski’s Studio L in rural West Virginia.
“Tonight, Tonight, Tonight, Tonight, Tonight,” featuring Lynx of Old Blood, plays like a David Lynch noir—dreamlike, unstable, and haunted by the question of what’s real and what’s remembered until the only way out is forgiveness.
“The Cossack’s Dream,” featuring Kansas electric violinist Joe Deninzon, is Refestramus’ English-language adaptation of a traditional Slavic song. “Lakeview Samurai” is a surreal character sketch set in Chicago—part satire, part fever dream. “Hell or NYC?” features Van der Graaf Generator saxophonist David Jackson, leaning into the album’s vertigo and dark comedy.
The record’s culminating epic, “Deathless,” draws on Slavic folklore’s Kashchey the Deathless—a figure who feeds on conflict and feels at home in the smoke of war. The piece unfolds as a three-part suite: “Above Volokov’s Mill,” “Goodbye, America!,” and “And He Always Will.”
Morri’s Rock Boutique is produced by Ian Beabout. Refestramus is a Chicago-based progressive rock project blending literate songwriting, political reflection, and classic prog influences. Led by Derek Ferguson (songwriter, drums), the group features Jan Christiana (vocals, keys, guitars, bass) and Dyanne Potter Voegtlin (keys, vocals) of Octarine Sky, along with Mitch Lawrence on saxophones and clarinet.
The CD edition includes two bonus tracks not available on streaming or vinyl.
Refestramus are booking concerts and have confirmed they will return to the International Pop Overthrow festival in Chicago at the Montrose Saloon on April 25.
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Morri’s Rock Boutique Track List
1. Storms – 04:33
2. Cossack’s Dream (feat. Joe Deninzon) – 05:37
3. Tonight, Tonight, Tonight, Tonight, Tonight (feat. Lynx) – 07:37
4. Lakeview Samurai (feat. Nam Chumo) – 04:15
5. Hell or NYC (feat. David Jackson) – 06:02
6. Deathless (Above Volkov’s Mill / Goodbye America! / And He Always Will) – 08:32
7. The Lucky Ones (feat. Rick Witkowski) – 04:21
8. Wasteland Pt. 1 – 04:19
9. Another Country – 04:02
Total Running Time: 47:98
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Musicians
Ian Beabout – production, mixing, mastering
Derek Ferguson – drums
Mitch Lawrence – clarinet and saxophones
Special Guests and Additional Musicians
Jan Christiana – bass, guitars, keyboards, vocals
Dyanne Potter Voegtlin – keyboards and vocals
Derek Pavlic – additional guitars, viola
Dan Bozek – additional bass
Tanaka Seijin – shamisen, koto, shakuhachi
Arrangements by Refestramus and Jan Christiana
Produced by Ian Beabout and Refestramus
Recorded February–May 2025 at Aardvark Productions and The Rec Room in Steubenville, Ohio; Studio L in Weirton, West Virginia; and Uberwald Elektroakustik in Chicago.
Mixed and mastered by Ian Beabout at ShedSounds Recordings.
All words and music by Derek Ferguson except “The Cossack’s Dream,” a traditional Russian song with lyrics translated by Derek Ferguson.
Licensed to and distributed by Melodic Revolution Records.
