Pitchfork Festival London: Tortoise
Wednesday, 4 November 2026, 19:00
Hackney Church · Lower Clapton Road, London
Tortoise is widely considered one of the most influential music groups of the last 40 years, with a wide-reaching impact on the contemporary music scene. Pitchfork says: “Imagine a graphic showing all the bands the five members of Tortoise were in before they came together and then all the bands they went on to play with after. At the top of the funnel you have groups ranging from dreamy psych-rock to earthy post-punk crunch, including Eleventh Dream Day, Bastro, Slint, and the Poster Children; on the 'post-Tortoise' end are groups focusing on electro-jazz and twangy instrumental rock like Isotope 217, Chicago Underground, and Brokeback. In this graphic, Tortoise is the choke point, the one project that has elements of all these sounds but is never defined by nor committed to any of them. Instead, Tortoise floats free, a planchette moving over a Ouija board guided by 10 sets of fingers, where everyone watches the arrow float in one direction but no one is quite sure how it gets there or who is doing the pushing.”.
Initially hailed as pace-setters of the then-emerging, so-called “post-rock” sound (a wording band never have really been happy with), the Chicago Tribune called Tortoise’s sound “mood music that refuses to be shoved into the background, as inviting as it is challenging.”
Releasing just seven albums since 1990 — including classics like 1996’s Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1998’s TNT, and 2001’s Standards —Tortoise has steadily and intuitively evolved across its life, creating genreless music that is as timeless as it is ahead of the curve. The band’s legacy goes beyond its recorded output, as well. Per the New York Times: “While Tortoise's albums have experimented with the editing and overdubbing possibilities of the studio, the band thrives performing in real time.” Rolling Stone deems Tortoise “a live marvel,” while Pitchfork further says the band’s performances reveal that “at heart, they’re a supremely fun band, wide open to all sorts of sonic possibilities.”
Ages 14+ (Under 16s to be accompanied by an adult 18+)
Please note that tickets are sold as Ground Floor Standing and Balcony Unreserved Seating respectively. Standing ticket holders may not access the Balcony area and vice versa.
We welcome anyone with accessibility requirements and will endeavour to accommodate any needs you may have. Please get in touch prior to making a booking by emailing support@hackney.church
About Hackney Church
Located in the heart of East London, Hackney Church, officially known as St John at Hackney, is the historic parish church of Hackney, dating back to 1792. Today, the church is part of SAINT, a thriving church meeting across multiple East London locations. Following a multi-million-pound restoration, part-funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the church has undergone a substantial transformation, driven by a vision to create a 'cathedral of creativity' to serve the local community and beyond. This project was spearheaded by an acclaimed team including world-renowned minimalist architect John Pawson CBE, visual artist Es Devlin, and conservation experts Thomas Ford & Partners. The renovation not only improved the church’s accessibility but also meticulously preserved its historical integrity, establishing it as an impressive centre for community engagement. Hackney Church functions as a premier venue for live music, arts and culture, intertwined with Hackney's cultural and social landscape.
About Lighthouse
Lighthouse is the dedicated social outreach arm of SAINT, started in 2016 to provide support and services to local people in need across East London. Supported by hundreds of volunteers, and funded by community donations, grants and live shows at Hackney Church, Lighthouse provides holistic support to individuals and families in need, spanning a range of services designed to combat poverty, homelessness, loneliness and social exclusion. Key initiatives have included a food bank that has distributed almost half a million meals since 2020, the provision of delicious hot community meals in partnership with restaurant Moro, and comprehensive homeless outreach that provides essential support services and signposting. Lighthouse also engages in extensive community support efforts, employment assistance, finance courses, and skills development workshops, all aimed at helping those in crisis and pointing towards a hope-filled future.
Initially hailed as pace-setters of the then-emerging, so-called “post-rock” sound (a wording band never have really been happy with), the Chicago Tribune called Tortoise’s sound “mood music that refuses to be shoved into the background, as inviting as it is challenging.”
Releasing just seven albums since 1990 — including classics like 1996’s Millions Now Living Will Never Die, 1998’s TNT, and 2001’s Standards —Tortoise has steadily and intuitively evolved across its life, creating genreless music that is as timeless as it is ahead of the curve. The band’s legacy goes beyond its recorded output, as well. Per the New York Times: “While Tortoise's albums have experimented with the editing and overdubbing possibilities of the studio, the band thrives performing in real time.” Rolling Stone deems Tortoise “a live marvel,” while Pitchfork further says the band’s performances reveal that “at heart, they’re a supremely fun band, wide open to all sorts of sonic possibilities.”
Ages 14+ (Under 16s to be accompanied by an adult 18+)
Please note that tickets are sold as Ground Floor Standing and Balcony Unreserved Seating respectively. Standing ticket holders may not access the Balcony area and vice versa.
We welcome anyone with accessibility requirements and will endeavour to accommodate any needs you may have. Please get in touch prior to making a booking by emailing support@hackney.church
About Hackney Church
Located in the heart of East London, Hackney Church, officially known as St John at Hackney, is the historic parish church of Hackney, dating back to 1792. Today, the church is part of SAINT, a thriving church meeting across multiple East London locations. Following a multi-million-pound restoration, part-funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the church has undergone a substantial transformation, driven by a vision to create a 'cathedral of creativity' to serve the local community and beyond. This project was spearheaded by an acclaimed team including world-renowned minimalist architect John Pawson CBE, visual artist Es Devlin, and conservation experts Thomas Ford & Partners. The renovation not only improved the church’s accessibility but also meticulously preserved its historical integrity, establishing it as an impressive centre for community engagement. Hackney Church functions as a premier venue for live music, arts and culture, intertwined with Hackney's cultural and social landscape.
About Lighthouse
Lighthouse is the dedicated social outreach arm of SAINT, started in 2016 to provide support and services to local people in need across East London. Supported by hundreds of volunteers, and funded by community donations, grants and live shows at Hackney Church, Lighthouse provides holistic support to individuals and families in need, spanning a range of services designed to combat poverty, homelessness, loneliness and social exclusion. Key initiatives have included a food bank that has distributed almost half a million meals since 2020, the provision of delicious hot community meals in partnership with restaurant Moro, and comprehensive homeless outreach that provides essential support services and signposting. Lighthouse also engages in extensive community support efforts, employment assistance, finance courses, and skills development workshops, all aimed at helping those in crisis and pointing towards a hope-filled future.
