Gong and Henge

Gong and Henge play CHALK on Thursday 19 March, from 18:00 to 22:00. It's a double bill presented by Love Thy Neighbour, and it brings together two bands that both lean into the psychedelic side of things, though they come from very different places.

Gong is a name that goes back to 1969, when Daevid Allen, one of the Soft Machine founders, started the project after a psychedelic vision. It's always been more of a mythology than a conventional band, and it grew into one of the most experimental rock groups of the seventies, blending rock, jazz and psychedelia with mysticism and surrealism. The current line-up carries that legacy forward, fronted by Kavus Torabi and featuring Dave Sturt, Fabio Golfetti, Ian East and Cheb Nettles.

Opening the night are Henge, who describe themselves as 'extra-terrestrial joymongers'. They've been performing across the UK and Europe for over a decade, won 'Best Live Act' at the Independent Festival Awards, and have released four albums. Their sound sits in the cosmic indie pop camp, built around synths, beats and psychedelic costumes.

Between the two, you've got a long-running experimental institution and a band that's spent ten years touring their own version of space-rock. The night is for ages 14 and over, and it runs from 18:00 to 22:00 at CHALK.