Description
The Canterbury Scene of the late 60s and early 70s marked a remarkable period in the history of British progressive rock music and, most notably, the development of jazz rock. A number of later bands that formed outside of Canterbury have been labeled as “Canterbury bands” (including a few in Europe), some of these bands were founded by a member of Soft Machine or Caravan while others were obviously influenced by these Canterbury groups. The scene was a breeding ground for world class players of considerable harmonic sophistication who innovated and expanded the music of their time.
The film highlights the following 60s/70s Canterbury Scene bands:
The Wilde Flowers (UK)
Soft Machine (UK)
Caravan (UK)
Gong (France)
Delivery (UK)
Egg (UK)
Matching Mole (UK)
Hatfield and The North (UK)
Gilgamesh (UK)
National Health (UK)
In Cahoots (UK)
Quiet Sun (UK)
Supersister (Netherlands)
Moving Gelatine Plates (France)
The Muffins (USA)
Among the musicians of the Canterbury Scene (that were active in the 70s), the following have been interviewed for the film
Pye Hastings & Geoffrey Richardson, (Caravan) Dirk “Mont” Campbell (Uriel, Egg), Brian Hopper, (Wilde Flowers, Zobe), David Sinclair (Caravan, Hatfield and The North), Bill MacCormick (Matching Mole, Quiet Sun), Robert Jan Stips (SuperSister), Didier Malherbe (Gong) Phil Miller (Delivery, Hatfield and The North, National Health, In Cahoots), Roy Babbington (Nucleus, Delivery, Soft Machine), John Etheridge (Soft Machine), Didier Thibault (Moving Gelatine Plates), Patrick Forgas (Forgas), Benoit Moerlen (Gong, Pierre Moerlen’s Gong, Mike Oldfield’s Band, Gongzilla), Theo Travis (Soft Machine Legacy, Steven Wilson), David Newhouse (The Muffins), Richard Sinclair (Caravan, Hatfield & The North, Caravan of Dreams), and Daevid Allen (Gong, University of Errors).
Celebrated underground, the legacy of Canterbury music continues to flourish today in the innovative work of contemporary bands such as:
Soft Machine Legacy (UK)
Forgas Band Phenomena (France)
The Wrong Object (Belgium)
Syd Arthur (UK)
Planeta Imaginario (Spain)
In addition we’ll hear the opinions of many younger contemporary musicians that are members of some of the bands mentioned above, Canterbury Scene experts, label owners, and fans of the Canterbury progressive scene. Other interviewees include Michel Deville, Susan Clynes, Antoine Leguet, Marc Capel, Alfonso Muñoz, Vasco Trilla, Liam Magill Joel Magill, Raven Bush, Fred Rother, Bruce Gallanter, and Leonardo Pavkovic.
The film is sure to raise some controversy and debate. Most of all, however, it will send you back to listen to classic Canterbury cuts of the past, present — and future.
