Signature Brew Haggerston, London
Saturday, 8th November 2025
It is a brave promoter who decides to put on yet another prog festival in this already saturated prog fest calendar, but Jordan Harris of Signature Brew is that man, and kudos to him! In my opinion, in order to be successful, the festival had to have an eye-catching line up, and not the same groups we see on the circuit all the time. Hackney Prog Festival achieved this with a broad range of bands ranging from hard rock to quirky English psych-prog, to pop-prog, and topped off with a reliable headliner.
The size of the crowd grew slowly throughout the day, and probably averaged around 80, which was comfortable in this small but perfectly proportioned East London venue
PANDAMOANIUM
First up was the classic/hard rock of Kent band Pandamoanium. Imagine Wishbone Ash toughened up after a course of weight training. There was a twin-neck guitar on a rack that was occasionally picked up by drummer James who at one point walked off stage playing it, walking round the floor, grinning like loon. Six (count ’em!) string bass was present too, for prog credentials. “In case you wondered, we are entirely instrumental, coz our singer never turns up. Ever!” True or false? There is a vacated mic stand, so…maybe. 😉
Good fun!
Cygnus Aria
Oberon
Dummy Button
Sahara
Skellington Quay
~ Encore:
Foolcrum
SOULWEAVER
This two-thirds from Swansea band venture further down the melodic hard rock avenue. Not really my thing but good at what they do. Includes the drummer from Pandamoanium, which given he resides in Kent and the others are from South Wales must make rehearsing a tad difficult! In fact, the husband-and-wife guitar/bass/vocals duo had to head back to Wales straight after their slot for a gig in Port Talbot tonight! That’s dedication!
If you like your hard rock laced with light prog icing, this is a band you should check out. They pop up quite regularly on the festival circuit.
Red
A Little Bit Down
Comprehend
At The End Of The Day
The Man That Living
Civilisation
Liberty
As Simple As It Is
The next band should have been the rather wonderful Z Machine, but sadly they had to pull out as the drummer is suffering a bout of ‘flu. Get well soon!
ARGHAM
A new band to me disturbs my radar. Yay! Henceforth known as “Graham”, thanks to keyboard wizz Thomas Morris’s humorous between-song banter, Argham are different from the norm and hugely enjoyable. Led by Tom’s vintage keyboard sounds, and tightly wound together by bass and drums, this band are a quirky delight. I was getting Arthur Brown with fried Egg vibes. This is a good thing! Very prog indeedy, with a healthy dose of English psychedelia, via East Yorkshire.
Well worth seeing.
Bavaria
Nocturnal
Red Sky
Monuments
Burden
Shallow Graves
Festum Fatorum
SLOTH METROPOLIS
Beamed down from a far-flung satellite of Planet Spacerock, Sloth Metropolis preach their heavy gospel. Often doomy as a black hole, alternating with powerful pagan folk vibes, not to mention being dressed the part, this is band is pure spectacle!
The powerful riff-driven intensity draws you in. There is no escape… aaaaaaarrrrrrrrrgggggggghhhhhhhh!!! 🙂
Fabulous!
According to Calum Calderwood, the main man on electric violin and vocals…
Somnolence
Deep Sleep
The Dream
Waking
…then several presumably as yet untitled songs from the new album, expected to be recorded next year and released in 2027!
Starseed
A FORMAL HORSE
Ah, the familiar yet always beguiling pop-prog of the band with the odd name. The interlocking instrumentation and quirky rhythms are set off perfectly by Haley’s still clear-as-a-bell tones (despite suffering with a cold). Don’t be put off by the word pop, though, this ain’t lightweight, as live these songs are given the extra heft that lifts them to another level.
The new song is a winner too!
Russell Mann’s bass may only have 4 strings, but it’s all he needs. Economy over dazzling! Guitarist Ben Short has nimble fingers that pick out the difficult staccato solos as well as delivering power chording, as opposed to power chords, when needed. Sometimes he wanders around offstage while playing, grinning mischievously. As did Pandamoanium’s drummer earlier. Imagine if Jimi Hendrix had had that luxury! 🙂
While all that is going on, drummer Mike Stringfellow keeps it tight and economic, locking the ensemble together tight as a nut.
Sweet!
Magazine Zooey Deschanel
Bird
Come Down Golf Club
Seaman’s Mission
I Just Called To Say I Like You
Heavy Hit
Unison One
I Lean
Unison 2
Space 8
Lonely Doe Young Doe
Let It Run
Last Track on Side Fun Coda
Here Comes a Man from the Council with a Flamethrower
I’m A Lasagne
SOFT MACHINE
The headliners were suggested by Chris Parkins of LPG fame, and a good choice it proved too! They open with a thunderous Facelift that sees Fred Sonic Baker living up to his name. Feel that bass! Theo Travis lets go of the frustration caused by lengthy earlier soundcheck problem with his keyboard by blasting out a ferocious sax solo.
I have seen a version of this band more than any other in the current century, and the fact that the guitar-led versions of the original band in the mid-70s were and are my favourite editions of the group (hang the heretic!), one of which of course featured John Etheridge may give you a clue as to why. Tales of Taliesin from that album (Softs) is given incendiary treatment by John tonight. It’s a wonder smoke doesn’t rise off that fretboard!
The now well-embedded rhythm section of Fred and in-demand drum maestro Asif Sirkis is a very different beast from the more organic pairing of John Marshall and Roy Babbington, but this is not to the band’s detriment, oh no! Each duo fitted perfectly with their differing modus operandi. Asif’s technical and thrilling solo in Middleburn was a delight to watch and hear.
The set has been given a good shake up, and with a huge repertoire to draw on Soft Machine have no trouble digging up past gems. They even did 10:30 Returns To The Bedroom!
SETLIST:
First Set
Maybe Never (electronic intro)
Facelift
Burden of Proof
The Visitor At The Window
Tales of Taliesin
Song of Aeolus
Fourteen Hour Dream
Second Set
Open Road
Joy Of A Toy
One Glove
Waltz For Robert
10:30 Returns To The Bedroom
Middleburn (drum solo)
Hidden Details / Hazard Profile (part 1)
~ Encore:
Backwards/Noisette
LINKS: Website | Facebook | Bandcamp
All in all a great day, and let’s hope this small but perfectly formed festival becomes a fixture. See you next year!
Finally, a word of thanks for the guy behind the bar who looked after us all day with consummate professionalism. Sorry, I never asked for your name, but if you read this, you know who you are!
