I recently went to the Prog Rock Festival at The 1865, and one of the best things about the day was getting to see The Wood Demons, Cephid, That Joe Payne and Colin Mason all perform live. I always think you get a much better feel for a band when you see them on stage, and each of them brought something different to the festival. The atmosphere was really friendly, the crowd was clearly there for the music, and it felt like a great celebration of independent progressive music.
Colin Mason
Colin Mason’s set had a really warm and engaging feel from the moment it began. His songs are built around strong melodies and thoughtful songwriting, which made them easy to connect with. He writes his music about places he has actually experienced. It felt like the kind of performance that invited you to slow down and really listen, and I found myself becoming more absorbed in the music as the set went on. As a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, he brings a lot of experience, but everything feels natural and genuine.
One thing that really added to his live set was the use of his CGI background videos, which created a beautiful visual backdrop for the music. The creation of the music and the visual story were intertwined. The animated landscapes and dreamlike imagery complemented the songs perfectly and gave the performance an extra cinematic quality.
The Wood Demons
Their music has a really atmospheric, almost cinematic feel, and the violin adds something that makes them stand out straight away. Knowing that the violinist is classically trained really makes sense when you hear the performance, as there’s a level of precision and emotion that gives the music a distinctive elegance.
“Starstruck” was a real highlight for me and sounded fantastic live. It had that perfect balance of melody, atmosphere and gradual build-up that the band does so well. There’s a mix of folk, psychedelic and prog influences, but it never feels overcomplicated. It feels like a band that knows exactly what mood it wants to create.
That Joe Payne
That Joe Payne was one of the most memorable performers of the day. From the moment he walked on stage, he had the audience’s attention. His voice is incredibly expressive, and there’s a theatrical quality to everything he does that makes every song feel like a performance rather than just a live set.
It was easy to see why he’s become such a well-known name in the UK progressive rock scene. Having built a reputation through his solo work as well as collaborations with other progressive artists, he brings a huge amount of experience and confidence to the stage. What really stood out live was his remarkable vocal range. He moved effortlessly across several octaves, from rich lower notes to soaring high passages, and the control he had throughout was genuinely impressive.
Cephid
Cephid’s use of synths, sequencers and percussion created a huge atmospheric sound. It was a great mix of energy and atmosphere that worked really well live.
A real treat was having ‘That Joe Payne’ sing on some of the tracks. His vocals were absolutely incredible and added a huge amount of emotion and presence to the performance. He seemed to lift the songs to another level, and the combination of his voice with Cephid’s heavier sound worked brilliantly.
It was also great to see the band with their signature laser harp, which added a striking visual element to the performance and made the songs even more memorable.
Overall, I really enjoyed all four performances and I came away with a lot of music I’ll definitely be listening to again.