Prog rock royalty hit the road with special guests, classic cuts, and enough keyboards to melt your brain, butt ๐นโก
Progressive rock fans of Britainโฆ assemble immediately. ๐บ๐ถ
The mighty John Hackett Band have officially announced their huge Autumn 2026 UK Tour, bringing a glorious mix of brand-new material, classic Hackett favourites, and atmospheric prog wizardry to venues across the country this September through November.
And honestly? This one feels like proper old-school prog magic.
The band will be performing songs from their latest album Red Institution alongside beloved highlights from the Hackett catalogue, promising nights packed with soaring melodies, intricate musicianship, emotional storytelling, and the sort of guitar and keyboard interplay that makes prog fans stare at the stage like theyโve just witnessed divine intervention. ๐ ๐ฅ
Joining the tour across selected dates are an impressive lineup of special guests including Heather Findlay, Dikajee (solo), EBB, Dorie Jackson, and Robyn Gair โ giving each show its own unique atmosphere and flavour.
This isnโt just another tour announcement.
This is a travelling prog-rock caravan heading straight through Britainโs grassroots music venues like a Moog-powered storm cloud. ๐ฉ๏ธ๐น
๐ถ WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT?
If youโve never experienced the John Hackett Band live before, prepare yourself for a night where progressive rock gets the full cinematic treatment.
Weโre talking:
- ๐น Lush keyboard textures
- ๐ธ Intricate guitar work
- ๐ฅ Rhythms that change direction more often than UK weather
- ๐ค Atmospheric vocals
- โก Huge emotional crescendos
- ๐บ Middle-aged blokes explaining Genesis deep cuts at the merch table
Basicallyโฆ absolute scenes, mun. ๐
The band have long carried the spirit of classic progressive rock while still sounding fresh, alive, and modern. Thereโs a warmth and sophistication to the music that feels timeless โ the kind of sound that rewards repeat listens and completely absorbs you live.
And with Red Institution now part of the setlist, fans can expect a fresh chapter in the bandโs evolution while still getting those beloved classic moments that prog devotees live for.
๐ธ THE FULL AUTUMN 2026 TOUR DATES
SEPTEMBER
- Fri 18 Sept โ Swindon Arts Centre (with Heather Findlay)
- Sat 19 Sept โ Ashburton Arts Centre (with Heather Findlay)
- Sat 26 Sept โ Seven Arts, Leeds (with Heather Findlay)
- Sun 27 Sept โ The Horn, St Albans (with Dikajee solo)
OCTOBER
- Fri 2 Oct โ OโRileys, Hull (with EBB)
- Sat 3 Oct โ The Seagull, Lowestoft (with Dorie Jackson)
- Thurs 8 Oct โ The Piper, St Leonards (with Dikajee solo)
- Fri 9 Oct โ Music Hall, Ramsgate (with Dikajee solo)
- Sat 10 Oct โ West Hampstead Arts Club (with Dikajee solo)
- Sun 11 Oct โ 1865, Southampton (with Dorie Jackson)
- Fri 23 Oct โ Greystones, Sheffield (with Robyn Gair)
- Sun 25 Oct โ Barnoldswick Arts Centre (with Heather Findlay)
- Thurs 29 Oct โ The Cluny, Newcastle (with EBB)
- Fri 30 Oct โ Bannermans, Edinburgh (with Dikajee solo)
NOVEMBER
- Wed 4 Nov โ Cambridge Junction J2 (with EBB)
- Fri 6 Nov โ Helmsley Arts Centre (with Heather Findlay)
- Sat 7 Nov โ Chapel Arts, Bath (with Heather Findlay)
- Sun 8 Nov โ The Bunkhouse (with Heather Findlay) ๐๐ฅ
- Fri 13 Nov โ The Chapel, Nottingham (with Dorie Jackson)
- Sat 14 Nov โ Black Prince, Northampton (with Dorie Jackson)
- Wed 25 Nov โ Spirit of 66, Verviers
- Thurs 26 Nov โ Vinyl Cafรฉ, Dorsten
- Fri 27 Nov โ Boerderij, Zoetermeer
๐น PROG ROCKโS HEART STILL BEATS LOUDLY
One thing we absolutely love here at The Riff Report is seeing legendary musicians continuing to champion grassroots venues and intimate live music spaces.
While mainstream music keeps chasing TikTok trends and 20-second attention spans, progressive rock still proudly stands there going:
โHereโs a 12-minute song about existential dread, medieval mythology, and quantum physics.โ ๐
And honestly? We respect the hell out of it.
Tours like this remind everyone why live music matters so much. Smaller venues create an atmosphere you simply cannot replicate in arenas. You hear every note. You feel every bass vibration in your ribs. You catch every subtle musical interaction between the band members.
Thatโs where the real magic happens. ๐ถ
๐ฅ SWANSEA PROG FANS โ THIS ONEโS FOR YOU
Weโve got to give a special shoutout to the Swansea date because seeing this kind of tour roll into South Wales is always a win for the local scene. ๐ค
The Bunkhouse has become one of the cityโs most important grassroots venues over recent years, hosting everything from underground metal chaos to intimate rock performances and touring legends.
A prog night there?
Oh, itโs going to be lush.
Expect:
- Air keyboards
- Serious beard energy
- Vinyl discussions at the bar
- Someone saying โthe early Genesis stuff was betterโ at least four times
- One bloke absolutely losing his mind during a seven-minute instrumental section ๐
๐ค SPECIAL GUESTS BRING EVEN MORE MAGIC
The rotating lineup of special guests across the tour also deserves serious praise.
Heather Findlayโs powerful vocals and folk-rock atmosphere add a beautiful contrast to the prog-heavy instrumentation, while Dikajeeโs unique solo performances promise moments of haunting intensity.
Meanwhile, EBB, Dorie Jackson, and Robyn Gair all bring their own musical flavours to the tour, making each date feel genuinely unique rather than just another stop on the calendar.
Thatโs the beauty of tours like this โ no two nights ever feel exactly the same.
๐ค FINAL THOUGHTS FROM THE RIFF REPORT HQ
Thereโs something wonderfully defiant about progressive rock in 2026.
It refuses to shrink itself.
It refuses to simplify itself.
And it absolutely refuses to care about trends. ๐
The John Hackett Band continue carrying that torch proudly โ creating music thatโs immersive, emotional, technical, and unapologetically ambitious.
So whether youโre a lifelong prog veteran with shelves full of vinyl and obscure live bootlegs, or a newer fan curious about the genreโs weird and wonderful worldโฆ this tour looks like an absolute must-see.
Prog isnโt dead, butt.
Itโs just busy adding another keyboard solo. ๐น๐ฅ๐ค
