The Gathering in Plovdiv

The Gathering are a Dutch rock band formed in Oss in 1989. Their early records drew on death and doom metal, while the arrival of vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen preceded the melodic, atmospheric sound of Mandylion and its signature song “Strange Machines.” Nighttime Birds continued that direction, and How to Measure a Planet? expanded the band’s work into progressive and alternative rock with electronic textures. The Gathering played Dynamo Open Air in 1996 during the Mandylion era. Their semi-acoustic concerts at LUX in Nijmegen in 2003 became the live album Sleepy Buildings, while A Noise Severe documented a heavier full-band performance at Teatro Caupolicán in Santiago in 2007.