Jon Patrick, promoter of the House of Progression series of concerts at the Peel pub in Kingston, together with Geoff Banks, music manager, promoter and writer put together a weekend event featuring the best of the prog bands that had appeared previously on the rather cramped stage at the Peel. Most of them had their roots in the neo-prog movement of the 80s and are still performing 30 years later, while the others were young upcoming names on the prog scene. The run-up to the festival had not been without incident, Mars Hollow being one of the bands due to appear but because of a shake-up in their line-up, they were unable to participate. However, promoters Jon and Geoff had built up such a close rapport with the band’s former bassist, Kerry Kompost that he and fellow Californian musician and composer, Matt Brown, were invited over to play on the festival’s acoustic stage. What is more, several members of the audience had flown in from the US just to be at this festival and very welcome they were too.

The enigma of the weekend, Tinyfish, were alas playing their last concert for the foreseeable future due to lead man Simon Godfrey’s hearing problems. Carrying out their soundcheck in front of the audience was the cue for much merriment especially with Godfrey wearing a Princess of Prog tee-shirt two sizes too small which was secured to his jeans with gaffer tape. Their eccentricity is only matched by their brilliant brand of prog with thoughtful guitar-led songs laden full of melody and touches of magic.

What makes them special are so many elements - Robert Ramsay, their Master of Ceremonies, making four appearances in different changes of costume, drummer Leon Camfield channelling The Muppets’ Animal, guitarist Jim Sanders making it look easy and bassist Paul Worwood playing it cool. The self-proclaimed smallest prog band in the world will be sadly missed and the huge ovation they received demonstrated the esteem in which they are held.