Soundle 2026
Schedule
Fri, 05 Jun, 2026 at 01:00 pm to Sun, 07 Jun, 2026 at 10:00 pm
UTC+01:00Location
Queen Victoria Hall, Oundle | Peterborough, EN
Advertisement
Soundle 26 is set for June 5-7 2026 in the Queen Victoria Hall Oundle Headliners are as follows:
Stuckfish on Friday
The Blackheart Orchestra on Saturday
Franck Carducci & The Fantastic Squad on Sunday
Friday:
1:30 - Doors & Bar Open
2-2:30 - Oundle Loves Singing
2:45 -3:45 - That Joe Payne
4:15 - 5:30 - Haze
5:30 - 6:30 - Dinner Break
6:30 - 7:45 - Pearl Handled Revolver
8:30 - 10 - Stuckfish
Saturday:
12 Noon - Doors & Bar Open
12:45-1:45 - Candacraig
2:15 -3:15 - AlphaLine
3:45 - 5:00 - Under The Surface
5:00 - 6:30 - Dinner Break
6:30 - 7:45 - Spriggan Mist
8:30 - 10 - The Blackheart Orchestra
Sunday:
12 Noon - Doors & Bar Open
12:45-1:45 - Beatrix Players
2:15 -3:15 - Freejam
3:45 - 5:00 - Viper Soup Complex
5:00 - 6:30 - Dinner Break
6:30 - 7:45 - Square Wild
8:30 - 10 - Franck Carducci & The Fantastic Squad
Friday will be kicked off by our very own local choir 'Oundle Loves Singing'. We are really pleased that they are returning here following their fantastic reception in 2025.
Next up we welcome back another Soundler in dear friend That Joe Payne. Queer artist and award-winning progressive-music vocalist, That Joe Payne, is recognised for his involvement with a variety of projects, from solo releases to collaborations with Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), The Enid, John Holden, and Zio.
Based in Northampton, England, and remembered by audiences for boasting an impressive five-octave range and flamboyant showmanship, his voice has featured on no less than seventeen album releases since his debut in 2012. Today, the singer uses his platform to advocate for better Mental Health Awareness and LGBTQ+ rights, with Payne's 2025 shows and releases carrying a message of solidarity with all marginalised groups affected by anti-DEI rhetoric. Personal achievements include being voted Best Male Vocalist two years running by the readers of Prog Magazine, winning 'Best Progressive Rock Album' with Jordan Rudess for PERMISSION TO FLY in the 2024 Progspace Awards, and three Progressive Music Award nominations for his work with The Enid
Joe will be playing a solo set ahead of a band we have been looking to get here for some time in Haze.
Formed in 1978 by the brothers Chris McMahon (bass, keyboards and vocals), and Paul McMahon (guitar and vocals), they played their first concert at Stephen Hill Youth Club, Sheffield on 10 November that year. On 29 May 1988, the band played a final sell-out gig at Sheffield University to celebrate their tenth anniversary of the band's founding before splitting up. However, on 31 May 1998, they reunited for a one-off concert to mark their 20th anniversary at The Boardwalk in Sheffield. They now play together on an occasional basis, and played two 30th anniversary gigs at The Peel, Kingston-upon-Thames, London on 31 May, and at The Boardwalk on 1 June 2008, at which six new songs were performed. Despite achieving no chart success, and never having a recording contract (they released their own albums, on their 'Gabadon' label), they attracted a considerable cult following, headlined at The Marquee and their original albums are highly sought-after collector's items. In March 2013, the band released their first studio album in 26 years, called The Last Battle. The album features the band in its classic line-up (Paul McMahon, Chris McMahon, and Paul Chisnell) with the addition of Ceri Ashton (on whistle, flute, cello, viola and clarinet) and Catrin Ashton (on fiddle and flute). The band stated that this is the final recorded performance with their long time drummer Paul Chisnell. Since the release of the album, Paul McMahon's son, Danny McMahon, has been the drummer for the band.
Pearl Handled Revolver are next up. Five souls who, in the studio and on the stage have a wordless chemistry that provides escape, catharsis and the release of making music and creating... for the love of it. Not for genre labels, kudos or credibility, because ultimately all that matters in Pearl Handled Revolver happens in the moment. Sometimes the result is Heavy Rock, sometimes Jazz rears its head and the spectre of Funk and RnB loom large; the exploratory spirit of Psyche and Prog always hangs heavy, allowing the band to fly just as the Blues roots them and marks the grain of their fingerprints. The only expectation with any weight is that, once together, time gives way to music. In 16 years Pearl Handled Revolver have created 5 self-produced studio albums, 2 live albums, 4 EPs, a retrospective collection. Through countless shows and hours rehearsing and recording. Sharing ideas, chatting and laughing in the studio, births, marriages, separation and deaths. On the road there have been service stations, coffee good and appalling, dressing rooms, hotels, hostels, sofas, floors and caravans. All memories and inspiration for whatever comes next.....And there will always be more.
Friday night headliners are the brilliant Stuckfish who last played here in Oundle at the 2022 Soundle. North East UK based Stuckfish was formed in 2017 by guitarist / producer Adrian Fisher and vocalist / lyricist Philip Stuckey. The songwriting partnership began with the debut album, Calling, which was launched to great acclaim in 2018. This was followed up by the successful fantasy driven album, The Watcher, in 2020 and the much loved Days of Innocence in 2022 which was voted one of the best albums of that year within prog circles. The band always strives to be different, producing songs that are melodic and memorable whilst pushing the boundaries of musical structure and composition. Live performances are energetic and powerful, bridging the demands of heart warming melodic rock and thoughtful neo-prog. Stuckey and Fisher are joined by musicians Adam Sayers (drums), Phil Morey (Bass) and Paul McNally (Keyboards) raising further the band’s status and standing within the progressive rock community.
Saturday commences with the wonderful Candacraig.
They are a duo from Lincolnshire, comprising of Sharon Cannings (Vocals, keys, mandolin) and Martin Nicholls (Guitar,)
Specialising in “cinematic anthems and dark twisted tales” , they span rock and folk, to create their own form of neo prog rock.
They have been compared to Renaissance, Curved Air, All About Eve, Maddy Prior, Kate Bush and Anathema. Although writing songs since they met in 1992, both pursued acting careers and
the songs remained unrecorded. Fast forward 25 years and several careers later, both were depping as professional musicians in tribute bands. The lockdown of 2020 forced a change in direction, rediscovering the songs they had written, plus writing several more. 2022 saw the release of Thunder of Whispers.
After a year of touring both as a duo and with a full five piece band, they started work on their second album- a significantly quicker endeavour than the first! Recorded at Trapdoor Studios in
Bradford, Lit By Lightning was released in February 2024.
The albums reflect both Sharon and Martin’s influences, drawing inspiration from the likes of Pink Floyd, Kate Bush, Marillion, and the Laurel Canyon movement of the late 60s.
As a Limelight featured band in Prog Magazine in June 2024, they have had a rapid ascent over the next two years, with well received live shows, notably at Fusion 5 and Highway‘24, Nene
Valley Rock Festival and HRH Prog, and were delighted to be nominated as 5th Best New Prog Act in the Prog Magazine Awards at the beginning of 2025. They have recently released selected remixed and remastered tracks from their first two albums as
“Whisper to the Lightning”, produced by Cosmograf’s Robin Armstrong. They are currently working on new songs for both an EP and a concept album for 2026.
Up next are Alphaline who are a boundary-blurring four-piece from Berkshire/Surrey, UK, known for fusing trip-hop, jazz, funk, ambient electronica, and alternative psychedelic rock into a sound that's both luminous and gritty. Influenced by the likes of Massive Attack, Porcupine Tree, and the fires of evolution and transformation itself, AlphaLine crafts immersive sonic journeys rooted in soul, grit, and a sense of cosmic wonder—music for seekers who feel deeply, think wildly, and move to their own rhythm.
Emerging from the underground with their debut EP Polarity, AlphaLine made an early mark with tracks like “Flatlining” earning airplay on BBC Introducing and Radio Wigwam, signalling a new energy stirring in the alternative scene. Their momentum exploded in 2025 when they won "Best Indie Rock Act" at the Radio Wigwam Awards, with growing international and internet radio play putting them firmly on the map.
Live, AlphaLine are a force of nature—blending hypnotic grooves, shimmering atmospheres, soaring vocals, and raw, magnetic energy into performances that hit just as hard as the music itself. From iconic venues to buzzing festivals, they've built a reputation for turning every stage into an unforgettable experience.
Their debut full-length album Electromagnetic (July 2024) captures the full sweep of their evolving sound: a 12-track journey through light and shadow, featuring both full and soundtrack versions of the ethereal "White Fire," a heavy club remix of "What U Gonna Do" (engineered by studio renegade DJ12Inch), and standout tracks like "Release," "Dual," and "Deluded." Available on all major streaming platforms, Electromagnetic marks a major evolution in AlphaLine’s journey—pushing their sound deeper, wider, and wilder into new sonic dimensions.
With press features in Reading Today and Wokingham Today, strong playlist support including five consecutive weeks on The RawSounds Playlist, growing support from radio stations and an expanding fanbase, AlphaLine is building a fire that’s only getting harder to ignore. And they're just getting started.
Under The Surface are Sanne Rambags - vocals / lyrics, Bram Stadhouders - guitars / compositions, Joost Lijbaart - drums, Lennart Heyndels - bass and Annabel Laura - vocals, guitar, keyboard, percussion, lyra
Improvisation, composition, language and culture meet, merge and influence each other. Under The Surface knows no boundaries. On their extraordinary third album, the group reflects on their own background and finds their own “folk”.
After the group’s first two completely free-improvisation albums, Under The Surface (2017) and Trinity (2019), both nominated for an Edison, the next step for Under The Surface is a fully composed album: Miin Triuwa.
Under The Surface was formed in 2015 and since then the band has enjoyed a great deal of international success. Drummer Joost Lijbaart recognized the group’s potential early on and organized more than 200 concerts in 25 countries on 4 continents: from Africa to South America, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Inspired by their many travels and the cultures they encountered, the group developed a unique improvisation language that combines jazz, folk, ethnic and electronic music.
With Miin Triuwa, Under The Surface embarks on a new musical journey with compositions by guitarist Bram Stadhouders. He wrote a suite of eight pieces in which the characters and qualities of the band members are transcendent. The constantly changing improvisations that are so characteristic of the band are now captured in a powerful musical statement that showcases what the band stands for. Instead of traveling to other worlds, in this project the group looks inward and explores how their own roots influence their music.
Under The Surface has a common drive to find the universal essence of different cultures. Thus, for this album the connection was made with the band’s own “forgotten” language, Old Dutch.
Spriggan Mist are no strangers to the Soundle as they played a triumphant set at the 2024 edition and they return to play the Saturday evening.
Originating in the Pagan folk world , Spriggan Mist have been catapulted onto the British Prog scene after a critically acclaimed performance at HRH Prog XI at the 02 in Sheffield. It was there that The Spriggs’ as they are affectionately known were labelled as Progressive Folk rock, and doors were kicked wide open to mainstream festivals such as Weyfest and Cambridge Rock Festival. As well as some great shows on the Prog scene across the country
However you label them Spriggan Mist’s version of Progressive folk rock is diverse and somewhat eclectic, blending overdriven guitars with instruments such as Saxophone, Recorders ,whistles and even a crumhorn creating a perfect backdrop for charismatic lead vocalist Fay Brotherhood to tell stories in that unique singing voice about Murderous Steampunk Mechanical Dragons , The Fae and a whole number of other mythical creatures. You leave a Spriggan Mist show having been truly entertained.
The Blackheart Orchestra is officially the smallest orchestra in the world. Two people playing 13 instruments. They perform in the centre of a circle of instruments that has been described as their ‘musical space station’.
Their music combines ethereal vocals with multi-layered combinations of acoustic instruments such as guitar and mandola, rock instruments including electric guitar, bass and percussion, plus piano, organ, electronica, orchestral and symphonic sounds, omnichords and their collection of vintage synthesisers.
The music is emotional with Metal Planet saying “Their music reaches areas of your head and heart that you never knew existed.”
They draw on their backgrounds in rock, folk, electronica and classical music to create a truly unique sound frequently compared to early Pink Floyd, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Portishead and Kate Bush. Simultaneously symphonic and psychedelic, classical but totally contemporary.
After 1000 gigs from Southampton to Sydney and 4 acclaimed albums, they’ve performed everywhere from intimate venues to London’s Palladium and Royal Albert Hall sharing stages with everyone from Hawkwind to Eric Clapton.
Awards include a nomination for the Progressive Rock Limelight Award, they won Best British Duo, were voted #4 UK Best New Band and their lockdown online concert series The Big Armchair Concerts was voted #10 Most Important Rock Event of 2020. Two years later their multi award-winning album Hotel Utopia went straight into the UK Rock Chart at #13, being called “Epic” by Uncut magazine,“Mercurial by Guitarist Magazine, “One of the best albums of the year” by USA’s Prog Rock Central and went on to win Best British Album, Best Song and Best Female Vocalist in the USA Progressive Rock Awards.
They have been described as “A mesmerising powerhouse” and “An avant-garde musical utopia”. Louder Than War declared their music “A life-enhancing listening event” Steve Hackett of Genesis described it as “Powerful and inspiring”and fan Phil Campbell of Motörhead described it simply as “******* beautiful”.
Lineup : Chrissy Mostyn & Rick Pilkington
Sunday headliners are :
Franck Carducci & The Fantastic Squad (Headline)
“ A REALLY TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW” Sting!!
This extraordinary group opened for Sting in June 2022 in front of 15,000 people. Steve Hackett (Genesis guitarist) has supported them since 2010 – even recording on their second album in 2015.�
They won the “Best Overseas Band” award from the Classic Rock Society, and in 2026, they embark on their 15th tour in the UK.�
They travel throughout Europe with their theatrical rock show, dazzling audiences, transcending genres, and winning unanimous praise at every performance.
FRANCK CARDUCCI & THE FANTASTIC SQUAD do not just offer an ordinary concert, they deliver a true experience with music of course – authentic 70s rock that evokes Pink Floyd, Supertramp, and Led Zeppelin.�
They oscillate from powerful and energetic sounds to atmospheric moods that lend themselves to daydreaming… We guarantee it is going to be a magical journey!�
However, limiting it to just the sound would be extremely reductive because this project is also a full show, with costumes, staging, humour, narration, and whimsical instruments.�
Your senses will not be given a second of rest. You vibrate, you marvel, you have fun!
It’s a unique, generous, festive, glittery, fun, and glamorous show that will conquer any audience.
Lineup :
Franck Carducci (vocals, bass, 6 & 12 string guitars)
Mary Reynaud (vocals, acoustic guitar, theremin, percussion)
Cedric Selzer (keyboards, vocals)
Barth Sky (guitar, backing vocals)
Lea Fernandez (drums)
Discography
Oddity (2011)
Torn Apart (2015)
Tearing The Tour Apart (2016)
The Answer (2019)
The Answer Live (2023)
Sheeple (2026)
Square Wild are a hard hitting, genre bending, force of nature from Manchester.
Hard to pigeon hole but easy to love, Square Wild weave an intricate web of styles and influences to create something truly unique. On a bedrock of meaty and heavy riffs they layer funk, reggae, jazz, hard rock, ska, silliness and salacious grooves to great effect.
Suiting nearly any bill, they are a non-metal band who won Manchester's Metal to the Masses and played Bloodstock. They are not quite prog and won Prog Magazines Best Unsigned Band of the year in the readers poll. Square Wild will simultaneously make you raise your fist in angst and raise your knees in dance and are a colourful injection of fun and fury who are guaranteed to get any crowd up and at it.
Their intoxicating live performance consistently earns them accolades and praise wherever they go. Having appeared at festivals around the UK such as Bloodstock, Planet Rock, Not a Cult, Gig in A Field, Sonic Rock Solstice, Winters End to name a varied few, they have been making a name for themselves as a standout addition to any bill.
Lineup :
Lucy Shevchuk (vocals, guitar, keys)
Tomos Cooper (drums)
Benedict Rhodes (bass)
Nathan Butcher (percussion)
Watch : https://www.youtube.com/@squarewild
Viper Soup Complex is a Maltese Progressive/Avant-Garde Rock/Metal band formed in 2012, which specializes in unconventional music and unorthodox stage antics.��Stylistically, VSC delves into multi-layered sonic outbursts. Often accompanied by dreamlike musical textures.�Thematically, the lyrics are mostly influenced by the absurd. ��The band has shared the stage with Arthur Brown, Sepultura, Septic Flesh, Enemy OF Reality, Thurisaz, Apocalyptica, Riverside, Katatonia, Within Temptation, and Planet of Zeus.��2018 saw the release of the debut album: RED FUGUE.
Currently, VSC is composing new material, while revisiting the RED FUGUE material for live purposes and musical growth.
Late 2025 saw the release of their sophomore EP, TETRAHEDRON PARADISE.
Lineup :
Annemarie Spiteri (vocals, lyrics, theatrics)
Michael Spiteri (bass, lyrics)
David Ciantar (keyboards)
Melchior Busuttil (drums)
Sean Anastasi (guitars)
Beatrix Players make florid, adventurous music that operates at the interface between folk rock, singer-songwriter acoustica, prog and quasi-classical baroque chamber pop. There is a light, translucent quality to the music, and yet when it is not being hushed and reverent, it has the attack and thrust, the surging dynamism, of rock. It can be soft and intimate, but it can also be fiery and intense, epic and immense.
A trio incarnation of the band released the band's debut album, Magnified in March 2017 and they went on to appear as special guests on UK dates with artists such as Steve Harley, Carl Palmer and Big Big Train. In October 2017 they performed two songs at Prog Magazine's star-studded annual awards event at London's Globe Theatre and walked away with the best newcomer prize.
With that line-up on permanent hiatus Amy subsequently released two well received solo albums in 2020 and 2022 and picked up
Best Female Vocalist award at the 2018 Prog Awards before recruiting a third iteration of Beatrix Players leading to the recording of this brand new album.
The award-winning Beatrix Players are an 8-piece band creating a meaningful blend of art rock and (chamber) prog with a healthy dose of folk and echoes of country and jazz.
“The music is shaped and carried by Amy's expressive, inspiring, and captivating singing, reminiscent of Kate Bush, and Tori Amos, and John Hackett's intriguing, and versatile flute plays an important role. However, the outstanding quality of all the musicians provides for a perfect balance of each instrument and the entire music very much to sound like a band effort.” DPRP
“Beatrix Players return triumphant with the mesmerising ‘Living & Alive’, a collection of songs that are bewitching and compelling and leave you in no doubt of their stature in the music industry of today. The sublime voice of Amy Birks and outstanding musicianship on show have created one of the most outstanding releases of 2023 and one that should be on your list of must-buy albums, it really is that good!” Prog Radar
“Who would have thought that one would even be reminded of Fleetwood Mac or Jethro Tull. No, no, no plagiarism here! Beatrix Players have created an independent, successful work. It's worth giving IT an ear and diving into an enchanted garden of beautiful sounds, thought-provoking lyrics and impressive vocals. By the end of the album you feel one with the world. That's worth a lot, isn't it?” German Genesis Fanclub - Thomas Jesse
Lineup :
Amy Birks (Vocals)
John Hackett (Flute)
Oliver Day (Guitar)
Tom Manning (Guitar)
Kyle Welch (e-Bass & Double Bass)
Andrew Booker (Drums)
Matthew Lumb (Piano)
After a 5 year hiatus, the award-winning Beatrix Players are back with a brand new eight piece line up and an intriguing new concept album. Living & Alive is available now on all streaming services.
Founding member, writer and vocalist, Amy Birks is joined on the album by her co-writers from the original Beatrix Players line-up, Helena Dove, and guitarist Tom Manning. Also joining this expanded group are doyen of progressive music, flautist John Hackett, guitarist Oliver Day (That Joe Payne, Yes Please), drummer Andrew Booker (Tim Bowness) and storied cellist Jane Fenton (LSO, LCO, RPO, Britten Ensemble etc). Pianist Matthew Lumb and bassist Kyle Welch complete the octet.
Master Of Ceremonies
Once again we are very pleased to share that the MC at the Soundle 2026 will be Anth Hodson-Curran. He has informed and entertained us in equal measure at the 2022, 2024 and 2025 festivals.
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
Queen Victoria Hall, Oundle, 3 West Street, Peterborough, PE8 4EJ, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
