THE WOOD DEMONS and KINDRED SPRIT BAND

Event information

THE WOOD DEMONS are a UK-based band with a growing reputation for writing powerful, melodic songs influenced by a wide range of genres – from progressive rock to folk, ambient, classical, film music and psychedelia. With electric violin and mellotron sounds lending an epic sweep, and memorable vocal and guitar melodies propelled by a supple powerful rhythm section this band creates a distinctive soundworld.

Formed by bassist John Silver and multi-instrumentalist Rick Startin, they were soon joined by guitarist and vocalist Simon Carbery, and later violinist Naomi Belshaw and drummer Ed Kontargyris. The band released their debut recording ‘The Lost Domain’ in 2017. This was followed in 2020 by their well received full-length album ‘Angels of Peckham Rye’.

Also acclaimed for their live performances, The Wood Demons have played Glastonbury, Fusion, Prog For Peart, Minety, Vannfest, Onboard The Craft, Tewkesbury Medieval festivals, and Soundle, London venues The Fiddler’s Elbow, The Bedford,The Camden Club, and the 1865 in Southampton.

In 2025 the band released their second full-length album ‘In Rabbits & Corners’, to glowing reviews, and are looking forward to playing it in London for the first time!

“The Wood Demons have produced a marvellous album with In Rabbits & Corners. It has not only built upon the quality of Angels of Peckham Rye but has raised the bar even higher. The progressive and psychedelic style of their music has been enhanced, whilst not losing their unique merging of folk, classic and art rock elements. This is a mature and coherent work of dazzling musicianship, lyrical depth, a cinematic scope and beautifully crafted songs that engage you fully in a truly holistic way. The band have really found their voice with this album – with compositions both simple and accessible, and yet wonderfully complex and challenging as well. Highly recommended!”

(David Edwards, The Progressive Aspect)


KINDRED SPIRIT BAND have a unique take on the Prog Folk Rock genre, weaving electric guitar and flute/saxophone with ‘perceptive and intriguing’ songwriting, driving rhythms and ‘haunting and bewitching’ female vocals. Their sound has been likened to Renaissance, Fleetwood Mac, Jethro Tull, and the Moody Blues. Prog Rock and Prog Metal Zine described their band sound as ‘One of the best folk rock acts in activity in the UK’.

Band founder and driving force, Elaine Samuels, began performing solo in folk clubs at the age of only 13, getting a mention in the local press as ‘one to watch’! She has featured on television, radio and at countless festivals and venues up and down the country. Rosie Upton (Bath Evening Chronicle) tells us ‘Elaine has a voice which can be both hauntingly beautiful & deeply emotional...it is her rich repertoire of perceptive, intriguing self-penned songs combined with her guitar work which sets her apart’.
Elaine evolved the full Kindred Spirit Band, performing notably at Guildford and Glastonbury Festivals and Liverpool's famous Cavern Club. Their most recent album Elemental is attracting attention while acclaim for their previous album Phoenix Rising led to international album distribution and a feature in
Prog Magazine, Rachel Mann describing their sound as ‘Folk rock meets
classical with a scientific edge’.

Kindred Spirit Band are currently Elaine Samuels (vocals/acoustic and electric guitar), Piers Hogg (electric guitar), Keith Buckman (bass guitar and bvs), Stevie Mitchell (flute, sax, and bvs), and Paul Austin (drums & percussion). This post lockdown line-up has already performed to acclaim at A New Day Festival, Danfest, Prog the Forest, Cambridge Rock Festival, Wokingham Festival, Carshalton Eco Festival, and The Soundle Weekend.

Following the success of their 2023 EP Mechanophobia, Kindred Spirit Band’s double concept album The Journey Within was released in 2025.