Focus in Chelmsford

Focus is a Dutch progressive-rock band formed in Amsterdam in 1969 by keyboardist, flautist and vocalist Thijs van Leer. Classical themes, jazz passages and hard-rock guitar shape the group’s sound, heard on the albums Moving Waves and Focus 3. The instrumental “Sylvia” and the yodel-driven “Hocus Pocus” became its signature pieces, the latter featuring guitarist Jan Akkerman in the band’s best-known 1970s lineup. In 1973, Focus recorded the concert released as At the Rainbow at London’s Rainbow Theatre during a period of extensive international touring. After several reunions and inactive periods, Thijs van Leer established another working lineup around the release of Focus 8 in 2002, and the band returned to sustained theatre and festival performances. The concerts use a full electric-band format built around keyboards, flute, guitar, bass and drums. “Hocus Pocus” gives Thijs van Leer’s wordless vocals and flute a central place in the set. In later years, Focus performed at Night of the Prog at Loreley. The group has also appeared aboard the progressive-rock cruise Cruise to the Edge.