Saturday 7, April

The Thing is the legendary trio of Scandinavian free jazz heavyweights Mats Gustafsson (saxophone), Ingebrigt Håker Flaten (bass) and Paal Nilssen-Love (drums). Each an acclaimed musician in their own right, the trio initially formed as a jazz cover band. Having reinterpreted the disparate works of PJ Harvey and Iggy Pop, jazz avant-gardists Don Cherry and Albert Ayler, as well as the likes of The Cramps and Lightning Bolt, The Thing have established themselves as one of the most progressive acts working in free jazz today. Fusing elements of avant-rock, noise and punk, the trio craft a vigorous maelstrom of improvised jazz that is full of grit and power.