Following their last sell out show, we are delighted to welcome back one of the greatest avant/jazz rock bands of all time, touring to promote their 13 album release “13”, featuring 13 brand new tracks.

Emerging from the famous 60’s Canterbury scene along with contemporaries Caravan, Gong and Egg, they were heralded as being at the forefront of the burgeoning underground psychedelic movement.

Touring with Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd in the States gained them an ever increasing fanbase enthralled by their incredible musicianship and innovative improvisational style.
They have continued to tour worldwide ever since and as well as the legendary founders, Robert Wyatt, Mike Ratledge and Kevin Ayres, the band has featured a plethora of outstanding musicians including Jack Bruce, Allan Holdsworth, Elton Dean and Hugh Hopper.

Whilst the line up of Soft Machine may have changed since the heady days of the 60’s and 70’s, the current long term stalwarts John Etheridge (guitars) and Theo Travis (saxophones, flute, keyboards), together with two virtuoso musicians at the top of their game, Fred Thelonious Baker (bass) and Asaf Sirkis (drums, percussion) are considered their best ever.

The band is rooted in the classic 70’s version of the legendary group which recorded the acclaimed “Softs ” album, showing a spirit of musical adventure moving from powerful progressive jazz fusion to atmospheric psychedelia to free improvised jazz rock which continues to make it both unique and totally contemporary, influencing several generations of bands, and still being name checked by today’s hip experimentalists.

Recent albums “Hidden Details “and their “Live in Los Angeles ” marking their 50th Anniversary World Tour, topped both Radio and Amazon Jazz Fusion charts. Their recently released and recorded album “13” features legendary guitarist John Etheridge in superb form, having recently celebrated 50 incredible years as a member of Soft Machine ! All four members have contributed compositions to the album and they are extensively touring the UK and Europe in 2026 to promote it.

Soft Machine’s last two shows at Exeter Phoenix completely sold out, in advance. Get your tickets early to see one of the finest progressive bands that has ever set foot on a British stage! Don’t miss out on two complete hours of classic softs material, old and new.

“Soft Machine were the grooviest, coolest psychedelic band of the era” Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music)

“The great thing about the current group is that there is no desire to live in the past, constantly pushing forwards and not part of the heritage industry” Jazz Journal

“No band of this vintage have any right to sound so fearless and ferocious” PROG Magazine

“These are four musicians  who are masters of their craft and truly at the top of their game,  not only as soloists  but as contributors in an actual progressive band. They have put together a set that has something for everyone,  challenging Jazz/Fusion,  adventurous prog/rock, bits of chaotic free Jazz, atmospheric pop and even a little hard rock. Extraordinary!” The Times 

Soft Machine’s last two shows at Exeter Phoenix completely sold out, in advance. Get your tickets early to see one of the finest progressive bands that has ever set foot on a British stage! Don’t miss out on two complete hours of classic softs material, old and new.

Venue: Auditorium, Exeter Phoenix

*Subject to a £1.50 ticketing system charge. We don’t charge this to make a profit. Find out more >>