Focus

On 18 April 2027, Focus return to The Fleece in Bristol. Formed in Amsterdam in 1969 around keyboardist and flautist Thijs van Leer, the band carved a path through progressive rock with largely instrumental pieces where symphonic rock brushes up against jazz touches and classical phrasing. The early partnership with guitarist Jan Akkerman set the tone: extended compositions, sharp tempo contrasts, organ-and-flute dialogues and those offbeat vocal outbursts that ignited Hocus Pocus. Drummer Pierre van der Linden’s elastic groove helped shape that language and still anchors the dynamics on stage.

Revived by van Leer in the 2000s, Focus have kept moving with new line-ups and albums like Focus 8, Focus X, Focus 11 and Focus 12, without losing the thread of melodic rigor and long-form development. Live, they favour narrative builds over quick hooks: riffs that open into improvisation, recurring motifs seen from new angles, and a balance between drive and space. The set leans on staples such as Hocus Pocus and Sylvia, woven alongside newer material, tracing how the band’s sound has evolved while staying true to its blend.