Canterbury Scene

The Canterbury Scene (or Canterbury Sound) is a term used to loosely describe the group of progressive rock musicians that were based around the city of Canterbury, Kent, England during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Roots

The musicians were not tied by very strong musical similarities, but a certain whimsicalness, touches of psychedelia, rather abstruse lyrics, and a use of improvisation derived from jazz are common elements in their work.

The scene had its roots in the Wilde Flowers, a band formed in 1964 which, at various times, was home to the founding musicians of both the Soft Machine and Caravan, bands which in turn provided the musicians of several later bands.

The genesis of the Canterbury Sound may, in part, be traced back to 1960, when Australian beatnik Daevid Allen lodged at Robert Wyatt's parents' guest-house in Lydden, ten miles to the south of Canterbury. Allen brought with him an extensive collection of jazz records, a different lifestyle, and the jazz drummer George Niedorf who later taught Wyatt the drums.

In 1963, Wyatt, Allen and Hugh Hopper formed the Daevid Allen Trio (in London) which metamorphasised into the Wilde Flowers when Allen left for France.

The Canterbury scene is also known for having a set of musicians who constantly rotated into different Canterbury-based bands. Richard Sinclair, for example, was at different points of his career, in the Wilde Flowers, Camel, Caravan, and Hatfield and the North. Robert Wyatt was a member of the Wilde Flowers, Soft Machine, Matching Mole, and also did work as a solo artist.

Bands and Musicians

include:

Record Labels

...with notable Canterbury Scene releases

External links

Progressive rock English styles of music | Canterbury

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Roots

Bands and Musicians

Record Labels

External links