In a quiet corner of Dartington this October, the gothic shiver of autumn won’t just hang in the air—it’ll echo through the walls of Things Happen Here. “Autumn Sacrarium” marks the long-awaited return of gothic post-rock explorers Abrasive Trees, joined in a rare double-headliner by the textured alt-rock of Gravity Machine.
The word sacrarium, an ancient term for shrine, sets the tone. This is a curated event in the truest sense, where every note—from the opening ambience to the final swell—has been composed or chosen by the artists themselves. “We wanted to curate something beyond just another gig,” says Matthew Rochford (Silver Moth/Rothko), the architect behind Abrasive Trees. “So we decided that between us we'd create the music for the whole thing—before, during, and in-between.”
It’s a rare moment of alignment: both bands debuting new material, refreshed line-ups, and—for Gravity Machine—their first full-band show since the haunting Red dropped back in 2020. Abrasive Trees, for their part, have kept a low profile since their last live outing in winter 2023, instead quietly shaping their debut album behind closed doors—a record now set to surface in spring 2026.
At the event’s core lies Ashen Sky, a newly unveiled collaborative project uniting Rochford and Gravity Machine’s Niall Parker with an intriguing circle of contributors: Mark Beazley (Rothko), Sebastian Rochford (Polar Bear/Patti Smith), Kerry Hope, Katie Whitehouse, Ben Roberts, and others yet to be named. The result promises not only a deep ambient journey but a collision of contrasting frequencies. “Sonic contrasts are what these two bands are about,” says Parker. “So we plan to play on that to the max.”
Atmospheric yet full-bodied, introspective but defiantly bold—Autumn Sacrarium feels like a statement of intent. Something closer to ritual than recital. And for those drawn to music that seeks to transform space, mind and emotion, October 4th might just be a night worth surrendering to.
Tickets are on sale now via WeGotTickets. Doors open 7:30pm. Black attire optional—but encouraged.