The charity one day progressive music event PROG the FOREST returns for its seventh year at the famous Fiddler's Elbow in Camden, North London on 6th December 2025 – a Saturday this year, as many people suffered transport difficulties last year due to Sunday railway engineering works. As always, event will showcase the diversity of modern progressive rock music and adjacent genres, and all profits will be donated to the World Land Trust. In order to maximum fundraising while still making the event affordable, there are a range of ticket prices, to enable people to make an increased donation if they wish (and are able) to, please note that they do not come with any additional benefits, other than raising more money for the cause. There is also the option of an ‘afternoon set only’ ticket, for those who may be attending another gig in London in the evening.
ALPHALINE is a Reading-based alt/psychedelic rock band fusing hypnotic rhythms, soaring vocals, and luminous guitar textures into a sound that’s both nostalgic and futuristic. Influenced by bands such as Massive Attack and Porcupine Tree, the fires of evolution and transformation, and the pulse of the underground, AlphaLine creates immersive sonic journeys rooted in soul, grit, and a sense of cosmic wonder.
"We make music for the ones who think wild, feel deep, and move to their own beat."
MOTHER BLACK CAP : Formed back in 2005, Mother Black Cap take their inspiration from the classic 70’s Prog bands such as Floyd, Genesis, Camel, Focus – added a touch of Marillion and Spock’s Beard to produce inspiring music, thoughtful lyrics and above all great tunes. And having played hundreds of gigs over the years at venues and festivals such as HRH Prog and the Cambridge Rock Festival, they also know how to put on a good live show and entertain the crowds. They have recently released their 4th Studio Album ‘Caveman TV’ which is receiving great reviews!
A FORMAL HORSE is an avant-rock awkward squad working out of Southampton.
“Abrupt changes of tempo and direction abound, with adrenalized, Crimsonesque complexity interfacing with more languid, light-filled chords. A Formal Horse possess warmth and charm” – Prog Magazine
BOVIDAE (Boh-vi-die) are a progressive instrumental quartet based in Sheffield. They perform a complex and highly charged fusion of heavy metal, classical and jazz styles, resulting in a unique and genre-defying sound. Expect polyrhythmic beats to challenge the most mathematically-minded, sweepingly epic piano harmonies interplaying with face-melting bass riffs, subtle (and not so subtle) nods to classical anthems, and violin solos to transport you to another galaxy.
A live Bovidae show is an almost mystical journey that will leave you breathless, watching four musicians juggle and interweave music from opposite ends of the spectrum, all at 100 miles an hour, teetering on the very edge of chaos.
For fans of…
King Crimson, Philip Glass, Frank Zappa, Meshuggah, horror film scores, polyrhythms, Gustav Holst, Igor Stravinsky
DIKAJEE (playing solo) is a Russian-born singer/songwriter who has shown her voice on stages across the globe with some well-famed names. In 2021 she released the album "Forget~Me~Nots" to showcase the weavings of folk, neo-baroque, neoclassical, and progressive rock, which received a bunch of positive reviews from music magazines around Europe, UK, and USA; she became #4 Vocalist Of The Year at Prog Readers Poll, and the single "Lily Of The Valley" was released on "The Best Of Metal Hammer 2021" official CD.
After moving to the UK in 2023 and a successful Kickstarter campaign, Dikajee will release a new album "The Frame" this year, which features contributions from guest artists Jonathan Noyce (Archive, Jethro Tull); Varijashree Venugopal (Snarky Puppy), and German Vergara (Aisles) among others.
HATS OFF GENTLEMEN IT’S ADEQUATE combine prog/alt/art-rock with contemporary classical, minimalist, metal and electronic elements. They often explore scientific and science fiction themes. This year they have released their critically acclaimed 8th album, 'The Uncertainty Principle'.
“Spiky neo-prog and art-rock. Never less than entertaining, passionate, humorous and committed” – Prog Magazine
JUMP have been treading rock's boards for quite a while. Formed in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire in 1990, this six-piece troupe of musical entertainers began life under the wing of the legendary promoter Ron Watts and then flew The Nags Head nest to establish themselves as Wycombe's most successful export since Howard Jones.
Beloved across a diverse musical community, from folk-rock to hard-rock via all points progressive, JUMP have played well in excess of a thousand shows and have found themselves hardy perennials on the undercard of many a more feted act. The band's first break onto bigger stages came in the shape of a number of supports with Marillion (whose Mark Kelly produced JUMP's fourth album, the recently remastered ‘The Myth of Independence’) opening the door for a subsequent tour with Fish and then a diverse host of associations that continue to the present. From John Wetton and IQ, through Wishbone Ash, Galahad, Midge Ure, Gong, Kajagoogoo, The Blockheads and Steeleye Span, JUMP have shared the stage with a remarkably diverse spectrum of acts.
The band's most recent of fourteen studio album releases across a thirty-five year career, ‘Over The Top’ and ‘Breaking Point’, have attracted universally favourable reviews across the rock press - in some quarters appearing in reviewers 'best of the year' selections - demonstrating JUMP’s ability to refresh, reinvent, and remain relevant.
JUMP are renowned for delivering a hugely entertaining live set, with frontman John Dexter Jones setting the tone with an endless capacity for narrative, drama and no little mirth. Seasoned musicianship and well-honed songwriting lie at the heart of everything - no two JUMP shows are EVER the same.
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“I’m thrilled and delighted to be co-promoting the seventh annual Prog the Forest one-day festival, which will be held on a Saturday this year, due to the travel problems many experienced last year due to railway engineering works on the Sunday. We’re also offering a reduced price ‘afternoon only’ ticket, for those who may be attending another gig in London in the evening. Once again, we have a superb line-up of acts - all of whom 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.” – Co-promoter Chris Parkins (London Prog Gigs)
“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 (Hats Off Gentlemen It’s Adequate)
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Prog the Forest is an all-day festival in 2 halves, with a break between the afternoon and the evening sets to allow people to have a meal; there are a huge number of eateries nearby in Chalk Farm and Camden Town. Accompanied children are welcome until 6pm. Due to licensing requirements the venue is 18+ after 6pm.
The Fiddler’s Elbow is a mostly standing venue, but some seating is available (restricted view). The event aims to be responsive to needs of attendees with disability issues; If you require a reserved seat, please let the organisers know.
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