Music & Theatre / Arts & Culture Soft Machine

Soft Machine's work, from their earliest performances as a psychedelic band who were contemporaries of, and shared stages with, Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd and the Jimi Hendrix Experience, all the way to being one of Europe's best known 'fusion' groups, has influenced several generations of bands, and continues to be name-checked by today's hip experimentalists.

Whilst the line-up of Soft Machine may have changed many times since the heady days of the late 1960’s, the band’s spirit of musical adventure, and the ease with which it freely avoids being pigeon holed and can move from powerful progressive jazz fusion to atmospheric psychedelia to free improvised jazz-rock to ambient loop music continues to make it both unique and totally contemporary.

John Etheridge:
No stranger to Lichfield Arts, John Etheridge rightly enjoys a glowing reputation throughout the jazz world and beyond and has been described by Pat Metheny as, "One of the best guitarists".

Fred Thelonious Baker:
Fred is one of Britain’s finest bass players. He replaced Roy Babbington in Soft Machine in January 2022 and was in fact chosen by Roy to be his successor. Fred has also made multiple appearances at our Jazz & Blues Festival.

Asaf Sirkis:
Asaf joined Soft Machine in January 2023 as successor to the legendary John Marshall. He has a giant international reputation as one of the world’s most creative drummers.

Theo Travis:
Theo joined Soft Machine (Legacy) in 2006, taking over from the late Elton Dean on woodwind and keys, and since co-written and co-produced their 3 albums as well as toured Europe, Japan and Brazil.