Soft Machine
Soft Machine: Avant-Garde Architects of Jazz-Rock and the Canterbury Sound Soft Machine stands as one of the most daring and […]
Canterbury Scene
The Canterbury Scene: Where Psychedelia Met Jazz and Progressive Ideas Took Flight
The Canterbury Scene isn’t just a subgenre—it’s a musical movement born out of a unique intersection of English whimsy, jazz improvisation, and psychedelic experimentation. Emerging in the late 1960s from the quiet English city of Canterbury, this scene gave rise to some of the most adventurous and idiosyncratic bands in the progressive rock universe.
At Prog Rock Guide, our Canterbury Scene section celebrates the key figures and bands that defined this sound—Soft Machine, Caravan, Gong, Hatfield and the North, National Health, and more. These artists blended complex time signatures, surreal humor, classical influences, and jazz-rock fusion into something deeply original and enduring.
Explore the roots, albums, and legacy of Canterbury’s finest, and discover how a modest English town became a hub for some of prog’s most beloved innovators.
National Health
National Health: The Last Great Flame of the Canterbury Scene National Health was a late-blooming gem of the Canterbury Scene,
Matching Mole
Matching Mole: The Abstract Explorers of Canterbury Scene Matching Mole was a short-lived but highly influential band from the early
Gong
Gong: Psychedelic Pioneers of the Cosmic Underground Gong is one of the most unique and enduring bands in the history
Caravan
Caravan: The Melodic Heart of the Canterbury Scene Caravan is one of the most beloved and musically rich bands to