THE GIFT are regarded by some as ‘the best kept secret’ in progressive and art rock. Back in the early noughties their first album ‘Awake & Dreaming’ impressed those in the know with its heady mixture of ‘70s style and contemporary soundscapes. Then there was silence...until the band reformed and released 2014’s “Land of Shadows”, an ambitious song suite packed with strong melodies and multi-layered instrumental workouts.

In 2016 The Gift released their 3rd album, ‘Why The Sea Is Salt’, which Prog magazine described as a ‘masterpiece’. It fused symphonic, long form suites with tasteful shorter songs, and featured luminaries Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips as guest musicians. In 2019 The Gift released their 4th album ‘Antenna’, which was even harder hitting than before whilst still retaining their signature sound. Then the pandemic brought silence, as well as lineup changes.

But it didn’t stop the songs. For the last few years The Gift has been busy creating and recording their 5th album ‘Seven Seasons’. Inspired by Shakespeare’s ode to our mortal experience, it explores the stages of life from birth until the end of days. Like the human condition it speaks to, the album spans a wide range of situations, emotions, and atmospheres. It takes the listener on an emotional journey through infancy, the adrenaline charge of youth, romance & marriage, the storms of mid-life, and the poignancy of our autumn years. Expect strong hooks, incisive lyrics and musical tours-de-force along the way.

Live, The Gift gives a committed and fiery performance. Frontman Mike Morton delivers their musical stories with passion and panache. Cristiano Tortoioli plays intelligent, powerful guitar and Keith Buckman plus Chris Taylor (on bass and drums respectively) are a formidable rhythm section. Eliot Minn supplies the keyboards, contributing a sound influenced by the greats but with a distinctive, often jazz-inflected voicing of his own. The Gift is one of the most arresting live acts on the UK scene right now. Just don’t expect rock cliché. As Mike says: ‘Don’t come to us for songs about cars and girls.” The Gift are back in the saddle, ready to raise the roof at venues and festivals throughout 2026.

‘The Gift belong in the higher echelons of the current British progressive rock scene’. (Leo Trimming/The Progressive Aspect).

‘The Gift are modest masters of the genre. They’re one of my favourite bands’. (Anthony Phillips).

‘The Gift take exactly what they need from the past, honouring rather than cloning, and employ it in unique fashion. They ably transition from a folkish-country sound to hard rock, then into more art-rock territory, all the while remaining fully in control of their own voice’. (Brad Birzer/Progarchy).

THE ROUND WINDOW is a band from the East Anglia/Midlands area of the UK, playing rock that is a melting pot of classic, melodic and progressive influences with a focus on narrative storytelling. Formed in 2019, the band have released two full albums - a self-titled debut in 2022 and the follow up, Everywhere and Nowhere in 2023 - and a mini-album, Fram, in late 2024. Each of these have received strong reviews and were all independently self-released and are available through Bandcamp. The debut is now out of print and only available as a digital download. Following a few adjustments the band’s lineup has now solidified and consists of; Gareth Cole - guitars and vocals Jack Lock - drums and vocals Rich Lock - vocals Thomas Lock - keyboards and vocals Dan Stubbs - bass and vocals. In 2025 the band played two festivals in the UK - Prog For Peart & Summer’s End - and were delighted to be invited to support Franck Carducci and The Fantastic Squad at the 1865 in Southampton. They received positive plaudits for the performances and praise for the power, warmth and musicianship on display. They have also been booked to play at 2026’s Nene Valley Rock Festival and are actively looking for more dates stretching into 2026. The band are currently working on material for a third album which will be the first with the current line-up.

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THE CAMDEN CLUB is one of London's newest and most exciting intimate venues (opposite The Roundhouse in Camden/Chalk Farm). Cabaret-style seating (plus some standing) with gourmet burger menu available - please support the venue by buying food and drinks as this keeps venue hire prices down, enabling more of your ticket money to go to the bands. Tables are unreserved; get here early for the best in the house!

Entrance is via a flight of steps up from street level and then a flight of steps down to floor level. Please contact the organisers if you need to use the accessible (fewer steps) entrance, and/or if you require a guaranteed seat.

Description supplied by the event organiser.