Situated on Chalk Farm Road in the heart of Camden, The Camden Club, once a Belgo bar and now an intimate and stylish venue, hosted an absorbing Sunday afternoon of Welsh Progressive and Psychedelic music. With soft lighting, low tables, and a warm, relaxed atmosphere, it proved the ideal setting for three distinctive bands: The C Sides Project, MonkeyTrial, and Z Machine. The event was curated by Chris Parkins, who brought together a lineup that showcased the diversity and strength of the Welsh Prog and Psych scene.

Opening the afternoon, The C Sides Project featured Sian Elson on vocals alongside former members of Welsh Prog stalwarts Magenta. They delivered a set steeped in narrative depth and melodic clarity. Performing without a keyboardist, they relied on guitar, bass, drums and vocals to craft their sound. Songs such as 'Lost', 'Icebergs' and 'Shadows on the Ground' revealed a strong sense of arrangement, and Elson’s crystalline falsetto stood out as a striking focal point. Her interplay with Alan McCarthy added warmth and texture, supported by a rhythm section that navigated shifting time signatures with ease. Their set ended on an emotional note with the wistful 'Foxes on the Road', warmly received by the audience.

Following a short interval, MonkeyTrial made their return to the stage for the first time in 2025, having last performed in November 2024. The duo of Clive Mollart on keyboards and Shaun Bailey on guitar launched into 'Timeships', a hypnotic opener with minimalist pulses reminiscent of Steve Reich. Their overall sound nodded to Tangerine Dream, blending ambient washes, hypnotic sequences and understated melodic shifts. Tracks like 'Viking at First', 'Comma5' and 'Dark Skies' expanded their sonic journey, with Bailey’s expressive guitar lines floating through the lush electronic textures crafted by Mollart. A Psychedelic video backdrop of abstract shapes and shifting colour fields added a visual counterpart to their expansive sound world, drawing the audience into a fully immersive experience.

Closing the event was Z Machine, who delivered a tightly woven, high-energy set that fused muscular grooves with technical precision. Tracks such as 'Slide', 'Andromeda', and 'Bonus Eruptus' showcased the band's knack for balancing intensity with intricacy. 'Synoceratus' stood out with its Jazz-Fusion flair and rhythmic propulsion, bringing the afternoon to an electrifying close. Their performance was energetic and focused, providing a rousing contrast to the more ambient tone of the earlier sets.

Ivan De Mello

Photos: Bruce Biege