GoGo Penguin

On 22 May 2026 at Bristol Beacon, GoGo Penguin return to Bristol with Necessary Fictions, a new chapter that leans into the trio’s acoustic-electronic dialogue. From Manchester, pianist Chris Illingworth, bassist Nick Blacka and drummer Jon Scott refine their language of repeating piano figures, elastic bass melodies and precise, propulsive rhythms, folding in modular synths, Moog colours and subtle processing without losing the live, human core.

The set moves between the warmth of piano trio interplay and immersive electronic landscapes. Drums often set the pace, patterns lock and open out, and melodies unfold with a quietly cinematic pull. Expect fresh pieces drawn from Necessary Fictions alongside reimagined cuts from across their catalogue, shaped on stage with the immediacy that has long defined the band.

Influenced by jazz, minimalism and the pulse of club culture, GoGo Penguin craft music that nods to trip hop and breakbeat as much as contemporary jazz. In concert the trio make these textures physical and clear, building momentum by ear and instinct rather than spectacle, keeping the focus on sound, space and the chemistry between three players.