This double Prog Rock bill proved to be a delightful Sunday afternoon down at The Camden Club! Firstly I was welcomed by Chris Parkins, the dedicated chap who lovingly and passionately curates the London Prog Gigs Group. This made me feel very much reassured with this weekend foray into the London Prog Rock scene. Coupled with both the likeable Camden Club guvnor Andrew Hart, who was not only cracking jokes but also serving a delicious range of burgers and chips for Sunday lunch, as well the super experienced sound engineer Francesco Accurso, ensuring a top notch sound for both bands quasi orchestral sets, this particular lunchtime I sensed that I was about to experience something special!

Opening proceedings were Kindred Spirt Band, a five-piece who have performed at prestigious venues and festivals such as Liverpool's The Cavern Club and HRH Prog Fest. Led by Prog Rock Queen Elaine Samuels on lead vocals, playing with majesty and mastery on her Yamaha Silent SLG20006 guitar, as well as using Boss ME-50 pedals combined with her own custom built pedal board, Samuels easily switched from producing both an acoustic and an overdriven electric sound.

Co-guitarist Piers Hogg complemented Samuels, producing his own solid competent sound on his Peavey Wolfgang QT Special and a Vintage V100PGM, while Keith Beckman played assuredly on his J-style bass, plus a Northwest Guitars neck and a Guitar Builds UK Alder Body, with unknown pickups and hardware - probably from a Squier Jazz Bass! Meanwhile, the excellent Paul Austin played The Camden Club’s backline drum kit - a Yamaha Stage Custom using also a Roland SPD-SX sample pad, triggering the sound design elements of the set. The instrumental versatility of co-vocalist Stevie Mitchell was also thrilling, moving with great musicality and grace from a Yamaha 211SII flute, to a Jupiter 500 series Alto Sax to a Yamaha cello, while last, but not least of these six superb musicians, was Rick Starkin on keyboards, who delivered a very welcome extra dimension of sound.

Performing their 2025 concept album 'The Journey Within', I was taken on an extraordinary immersive sound and soul journey with each meaningful composition segueing into the next, containing a profound depth in lyrics and musicality. Indeed, their set was frankly a fantastic, moving, overall musical experience, enhanced by Andrew Holloway’s audio visual skill’s, projecting the ethereal images especially selected for each song.

The musical intensity of the 75 minute set took us from the opening number, the metaphorical and allegorical confusion of 'House of Mirrors', to entering the transformative forest realm of 'Into the Woods' and then to the continuance of the dream like journey 'Lost'. Other highlights were the phoenix like song 'Rise Again, the beauty of 'The Lake', the navigational 'Find My Way', and the uplifting and redemptive 'The Way Home'.

In front of a world hardened yet open minded audience, Samuels was the pilot and guide on 'The Journey Within', and I certainly felt more positive and refreshed too! Indeed, like the audience, I travelled enrapt, on this magical sound journey from initial troubled soul, through the woods, to the lake and beyond to the angelic lightness (with Elaine also spreading her angelic wings on stage at the end) and shine of renewal, redemption, positivity and hope. Today, Kindred Spirit Band's sound and set was transformative and special.

Next up were The Wood Demons. of which, my rather understated shorter review is indeed under reflective of the talent, sound and musical offering that this London based band brought to today's lunchtime Prog table, with their impressive mixed genre of melodic and also at times catchy compositions. Elements of Art Rock, Folk, Ambient sound, Folk, Film music, Psychedelia and Classical, combined with Prog Rock to produce a powerful contemporary musicality. As it was, I delighted in their set of extended musical numbers from their albums, 'Angels of Peckham Rye' (2020) and 'In Rabbits and Corners' (2025).

Comprising Simon Carbery on guitar and vocals, Rick Starkin on keyboards and Ed Kontargyris on drums, their combined mellifluous musicality complemented by the energetically powerful performance and classically infused overlay of violinist Naomi Bellshaw, was compelling. Indeed, Carbery himself is an intelligent artist as his compositions today, with their storyboarding and audio messaging certainly reflected that. Cue the haunting sound and complex lyrics of their opener, 'I Told You I Will', that beautifully set the powerful scene, with its ethereality of multi dimensionality, Psychedelia, imagery and determination of spirit. I loved it, as Bellshaw’s violin and sound shone.

'Interminable Beige Thing' saw tranquil, classically infused violin scoring as well as beautiful Prog Rock keyboards coming in and combining, while 'Arithmomania' made me smile as a non-mathematician! With its unusual and opening Chorda, retro in sound like a 60’s or 70’s TV series, we collectively sampled the intense lyrical calculations, with an accompanying crescendo, followed by an ascending and then descending tranquil Prog progression! Meanwhile, 'Gentleman It’s Time' wowed me, with its wonderful keyboard water dripping effect, soft at times, as well its violin and superb Melodic Prog Rock sound. Indeed, the chorus and melody "Gentleman It’s Time. We are next in line", has since slipped into my humming musical memory bank!

'Angels of Peckham Rye' had elements of Asian music running through its opening bars, before Bellshaw’s beautiful violin, as well as a quick step, almost Techno beat, came in, as Carbery’s contemporary vocal on this cool composition, positioned itself into mainstream Indie Rock. Skilful and sound filled, it also comprised of wonderful minor chord changes, as well as Bellshaw’s violin rising and falling in Eastern European style chord sequentially. Penultimately, it was then the extended treat of 'Nothing Between Us' and 'Heaven Parts 1-4', followed by an encore of 'Underground Rivers', where I loved hearing “The Wood Pidgeons”.

Music for the intelligent soul, as well as appealing to the classicist, I loved The Wood Demons appealing set and I want to hear them again! Finally, congratulations too to Chris Parkins of London Prog Gigs for delivering another delightful gig experience. Go sample these bands and more of London Prog Rock gigs.

Review, photos and video: Denise Lester