Soft Machine

Formed in Canterbury in 1966, Soft Machine emerged as one of the defining bands of the UK underground scene, alongside acts like Pink Floyd. Originally featuring Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, Daevid Allen and Mike Ratledge, the group quickly established a reputation for pushing musical boundaries—blending psychedelic rock with jazz improvisation and experimental structures. Their early work helped shape the influential “Canterbury scene,” and by the early 1970s they had evolved into pioneers of jazz-rock fusion, creating complex, forward-thinking music that would influence generations of progressive and experimental artists.
Across decades of constant reinvention and changing line-ups, Soft Machine have remained defined by innovation rather than nostalgia. From their shift toward instrumental jazz fusion in the mid-’70s to later incarnations such as Soft Machine Legacy and the band’s re-emergence under the original name in 2016, their sound has continued to evolve while retaining its exploratory spirit. Today, Soft Machine stand as one of the most enduring and influential names in British progressive music—still performing and recording with the same commitment to musical adventure that has defined them since the beginning.

• Friday 4 December 2026 — the show starts at 7:30 PM.
• Hertford Corn Exchange is in Hertford.
• Within a minute's walk of Hertford Corn Exchange: Market Bar Hertford, The Practitioner and Il Vino; the nearest railway station is Hertford East, about 6 minutes on foot (what's nearby).
• Soft Machine. plays 4 more dates on this tour.
• New to gigs? What doors, curfews, age limits and presales mean.