France - 2 Show Pass

France, a kraut, psych, folk and drone trio formed in Valence, plays at New River Studios in London. The concert brings the band's hurdy-gurdy-led, trance-inducing approach to a London audience.

France is a kraut, psych, folk and drone band formed as a trio in Valence. Its members are Jeremie Sauvage on bass, Yann Gourdon on electrified hurdy-gurdy and Mathieu Tilly on drums. The group combines ancient folk textures with exploratory drone and krautrock cycles, so the hurdy-gurdy sits at the centre of a sound rooted in old traditions yet built on repetition.

On stage, the trio plays slow-building, trance-inducing sets that aim for a physical and mental effect. Gourdon's hurdy-gurdy playing is described as forceful and highly unpredictable. The project draws on the hypnotic, minimalist collaborative work of Tony Conrad and Faust, and its creative focus is on community, motion and unity through heavily altered sonic states.

New River Studios, on Eade Road in London, is a venue that mainly hosts pop, rock and indie concerts. Here the band's drone and krautrock sound takes the stage in a setting more often given over to other genres.