Season of the Song: The 286 & Holocene

*This is a standing show only

The 286 is a genre-spanning rock orchestra from London, blending guitar-driven rock with the elegance of classical music. Their unique symphonic sound fuses the spirit of British invasion-era pop, the boldness of classic rock, and the sweeping drama of classical music —creating music that feels both timeless and thrillingly modern. Aside from their own compositions, The 286 perform their own unique arrangements of classical pieces created by composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Prokovfiev and Bach.

With soaring violins, rich cellos, punchy guitars, and infectious hooks, The 286 craft songs that channel the raw energy of The Beatles and ELO, the storytelling of The Kinks and Genesis, and the cinematic scope of film scores. Whether on record or live on stage, they offer a musical experience unlike anything else in the UK.

Formed with a mission to break musical boundaries, The 286 have carved out a niche that resonates with fans of classic rock and orchestral crossover alike. Their previous releases—EP, Rolling With The 286, Just Another Night and most recently their 2025 album Symphony —showcase a band confident in their identity and ambitious in their execution.

The 286 aren’t just a band—they’re a statement: proof that rock can evolve without losing its soul, and that classical instrumentation still has the power to move modern audiences.

Holocene

Holocene is the alias for front-woman, Sian Kelly; an artist and songwriter from Southwest London.

Holocene illustrates sombre worlds and the stark realities within human experience through her foreboding lyricism and chest-hitting mood shifts. Holocene pairs her cinematic soundscapes, and heavy guitars with a voice which celebrates the darker qualities of the female range, telling stories of loss; learning in love and inevitable change. Her music is a product of growing up with a messy array of grunge and jazz records as her childhood soundtrack; from Nina Simone, to Pearl Jam, to Portishead. Holocene’s music aches of real life and the toil of love in all of its façades.