The charity one day progressive music event PROG the FOREST returns for its fifth year at the famous Fiddler's Elbow in Camden, North London, on Sunday 3rd December. As always, event will showcase the diversity of modern progressive rock music and related genres, and all profits will be donated to the World Land Trust.
THE BLACKHEART ORCHESTRA - officially the smallest orchestra in the world. Two people playing 13 instruments between them, Chrissy Mostyn and Rick Pilkington draw on their backgrounds in rock, folk, electronica and classical music to create a unique sound frequently compared to early Pink Floyd, Portishead and Kate Bush as well as contemporary composers such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass. Described as an ”avant-garde musical utopia” they perform in their ‘musical space station’ of instruments including guitar, bass, percussion, mandola, piano, organ, omnichord and vintage synthesisers. Their universally applauded 2022 album Hotel Utopia went straight into the UK Rock Chart at #13, winning Best British Album and Best Song at the USA’s Progressive Rock Awards where Chrissy Mostyn was voted Best Female Vocalist.
THIS WINTER MACHINE was formed in 2016 by vocalist Al Winter. Influenced by everything from the classic 'prog' bands of the '70s and '80s to rock and prog bands from later years, they released their debut album 'The Man Who Never Was', and after some line-up changes their second 'A Tower of Clocks' in 2019. After further line-up changes, they released their 3rd album 'Kites' in Nov 2021, and their fourth 'The Clockwork Man is due for release in mid-2023.
EBONY BUCKLE is an Australian art pop singer-songwriter based in London. In 2021 she released her debut album “Disco Lasers” alongside 10 music videos celebrating the wonders of our universe and how we as human beings make sense of our existence through folklore legends, science and our imagination. She performs, writes and produces with her partner Nick Burns. Her unique voice was first recognised in the BBC’s drama Inspector George Gently, where she performed her version of Silver Dagger which reached number 1 in the iTunes World Music Charts. For several years she has been performing her original music around the UK, sharing the stage with legendary acts like Solstice, Focus and Lifesigns.
EBB are a genre-defying group of five women and one guy with a mission to “Bring Prog to the People!” The band boldly bring in riveting instrumental soundscapes, spoken word poetry, and iconic space whispers to accompany the onslaught of skilled drums, searing keyboards and soulful guitar, all overlayed by Erin’s powerful vocals and deeply personal lyrics. “Scottish Sextet EBB deliver a polished and impassioned set of space rock, ballads, inventive grooves and straight-up rockers. Endlessly entertaining, the band embrace variety” – Prog Magazine
HATS OFF GENTLEMEN IT’S ADEQUATE combine prog/alt-rock, funk, metal, ambient, contemporary classical, minimalist, and electronica elements, and often explore scientific and science fiction themes. 2023 sees the 10-year anniversary of the band’s first album and the release of their seventh album, "The Light Of Ancient Mistakes". “Spiky neo-prog and art-rock. Never less than entertaining, passionate, humorous and committed” – Prog Magazine
GURANFOE is a four-piece rock band from Norwich, whose music forges psychedelic boogie, prog intricacy and jazz exhilaration. These styles combine with years of cohesive group playing to produce a live show defined by medleys of technical prog jams, stellar musicianship and off-the-chain energy. In 2022 they celebrated their 10th anniversary with a 10-night livestream event, and their second studio album "Gumbo Gumbo" was released in October to rave reviews from Prog Magazine. Guranfoe also independently release their own concert recordings, live studio sessions, annual improvised jams and rehearsal tapes from their practice cabin in rural Norfolk, which can be found on their Bandcamp site.
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“The World Land Trust buys threatened rainforest, to protect in trust, to stop them getting chopped down. Trees make oxygen, without which breathing is a bit pointless. So protecting the trees is good for the wildlife, and good for us staying alive. A win-win really” - Co-promoter Malcolm Galloway (Hat’s Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate)
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The Fiddler’s Elbow is a mostly standing venue, but some seating is available on a first-come/first served basis. The event aims to be responsive to needs of attendees with disability issues; If you require a reserved seat, please let the organisers know.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE VENUE by buying drinks from the bar. If the bar takings are insufficient, they will have no option but to increase their hire charge, which will result in higher ticket prices.
Once again we have a superb line-up of acts, all of who are donating their services for free, which makes this fabulous event uniquely affordable in these difficult times while still raising a considerable sum for our cause.
As usual, there will be a break between the afternoon and the evening sets to enable soundchecks, during which time attendees are encouraged to leave the venue and avail themselves of the many eating opportunities in nearby Chalk Farm Road and Camden Town.
Advance tickets : £25 (plus fees)
On the Door : £30