A massive triple-bill of contemporary Progressive Rock comes to the legendary basement of The Flapper!

🎧 Listen to the official gig preview playlist featuring all three bands here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6VEMd2LyofR05wh2iRvqBW?si=4A_BD-N7R_SeaCR26LSZOw

IT began life as a psychedelic, multi-media group; a band with a colossal sound that shakes the bones, with a barrage of images that feeds the mind. IT’s sound fuses the classic melodies of prog rock’s past with a passion and intensity usually only found in punk or metal bands. Politics, religion, war and sexuality all come under the band’s lens for critical examination. Lyrics are intelligent, challenging and occasionally darkly humorous. The bottom line is that the IT experience will inform your thinking, feelings and memory long after the last notes have ended.
iT have just released the remake of their 1994 debut album ‘The Stranger Inside the Self’. But as always new music is being worked away in the background and a follow up to IT’s last original studio album, ‘We’re All In This Together’, is not far off the horizon.

FREEDOM TO GLIDE have built a reputation for cinematic, thought-provoking progressive music that blends powerful songwriting with atmospheric soundscapes. Across four acclaimed studio albums, the band has steadily grown an international following drawn to their emotional depth, musicianship, and independent spirit. Following years as a studio-based project, their live appearances have quickly earned praise for the musicianship, warmth, and immersive sound.
The live line-up features Andy Nixon (also of Badfinger) on lead vocals and guitars, Pete Riley on keyboards, John Jowitt (IQ, Arena, Frost*) on bass and backing vocals, Rob Groucutt (The Tangent, Tim Bowness, son of ELO’s Kelly Groucutt) on keyboards, guitar and backing vocals and Stu Emms on drums. Together, they bring Freedom to Glide’s rich catalogue to life with power, subtlety, and a genuine connection to audiences old and new.


FORGOTTEN GODS emerged on the live scene in 2023 & debut album Memories (2024) was described by The Progressive Aspect as “filled with songs full of power and drama, others dripping with touching emotion”. Prog Rader described it as standing “proudly amongst this year’s finest releases” & was chosen second in their list of albums of 2024.
Live, guitarist Steve Harris’ solos were described as “breath-taking” by TPA & singer Mark Cunningham’s voice was called “beautiful and powerful” & the band as delivering “a set of melodic prog of the finest quality… A polished and energetic live performance”. DPRP (NL)
In the annual Prog Magazine Reader’s Poll in Feb 2025, the band was voted one of the “New Bands of The Year”.
• “dazzling guitar….impressive keyboards” Prog Magazine (UK)
• “Forgotten Gods deserve to be mentioned in the same breath and company as the finest modern progressive rock acts” Lazland UK
• “Melodic prog of the finest quality…Polished and energetic live performance” DPRP (NL)
• “sprawling soundscapes, sophisticated rock, inventive sound effects and successful melodies” MusikReviews (DE)
• “anthemic, emotional, powerful and memorable” BabyBlau (DE)

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THE FLAPPER Venue:
Perfectly suited for an immersive, atmospheric evening, this iconic waterside venue boasts a fantastic, dedicated basement gig room renowned for its excellent acoustics, intimate vibe, and clear sightlines. It is the ideal indoor space to kick off the weekend and lose yourself in an exceptional night of live music.
Just a short walk from Birmingham New Street station and major city-centre parking, The Flapper combines hassle-free weekend accessibility with a warm, welcoming community atmosphere that makes every live show feel special.