2026 started with three concerts by Theo’s acclaimed Double Talk Band. Featuring the talents of Mike Outram on guitar, Pete Whittaker on organ and Nic France on drums the band played at the Sound Cellar in Poole, the Bear in Luton and the Arts Depot in Finchley, London. The concerts included a mixture of tracks from the recently re-released Secret Island album and the two Double Talk albums as well as a couple of surprise tracks. In the audience at the London show were spotted various luminaries including Steven Wilson (Porcupine Tree), Andy Glass (Solstice), David Cross (King Crimson), Jon Field (Jade Warrior) and Richard Hudson (The Stawbs), comedian Frank Skinner and actress Carolyn Pickles - a testament to the esteem in which respected musicians and artists hold Theo Travis.

Double Talk by Robyn Koh Arts Depot Jan 2026

Double Talk play four more live UK concerts this summer-

• Fri 5 June. Birmingham 1000 Trades
• Weds 10 June  Fleece Jazz, Suffolk
• Weds 22 July  Botley, Oxford Tap Social
• Sun 9 August Chelmsford Hotbox.

For Much of early 2026, Theo has been very busy with Soft Machine.  The brand new Soft Machine studio album Thirteen was released on 13 March followed by various live appearances including a sell out show at London’s legendary Ronnie Scott’s club. Theo produced the album and composed 6 of the 13 tracks on the album. It is released on Dyad records and has been extremely well received. The band is touring the UK and Europe extensively in  2026 and 2027 and dates are listed here.

Since about 2007, Theo has occasionally played in an improvising trio called Orchestra Futura, which features bassist  (and colleague in Cipher) Dave Sturt and Bebop Deluxe guitar legend Bill Nelson. The trio often performed at Bill Nelson’s Nelsonica conventions. On 13 Feb 2026 the trio released their only release called Live at Nelsonica and Clothworkers Hall. Comprising of improvisations, the album was released on Theo’s Ethersounds label both on CD and limited edition Vinyl (through Burning shed here  https://burningshed.com/store/billnelson). The album has received excellent reviews including this one from BBC Music Magazine.

"Live at Nelsonica & Clothworkers Hall"

Bill Nelson’s Orchestra Futura Ethersounds ESCD012 44:88 mins

Two useful definitions of jazz: music that could be programmed into a jazz festival and/or music that might activate the jazz antennae of listeners who genuinely know how the music works. One could also draw the attention of these listeners to such phrases as ‘a clarity of vision and empathy between the players’ performing music described as ‘improvised over loosely prepared structures’, both of which are used in the press release that accompanies this recording and certainly work for me. All three musicians are noted for their exploratory thinking and all have previously worked on shared projects. Jazz box firmly ticked.

Critical bluster aside, this is extraordinary stuff. Leader Bill Nelson (guitar) probably has the highest profile among the cognoscenti, although of course Dave Sturt (bass) and Theo Travis (saxes/flutes) are individually respected innovators. Additional (mainly electronic) resources are also deployed on this intergeneric album, recorded live over a period of several years yet seamlessly integrated into a programme that glides effortlessly between art-rock, jazz and ambient electronica, big on both alert invention and expertly constructed long-form development. Unreservedly recommended.

5 Stars"

With Production and Soundscapes by Steven Wilson

(Panegyric Records. Released 6 September 2024)

Available from Burning Shed- Click Here!

Signed copies available direct from Theo – Click here

When Theo Travis began experimenting with long-form improvised instrumentals for duduk – a woodwind instrument from Armenia sometimes described as ‘the saddest sounding instrument in the world’, he could hardly have imagined a world in which such a one-hour piece would clock up in excess of a million plays on YouTube. Yet that is precisely what happened, with the multi-functional music finding fans purely in its own terms as well as for an array of uses from meditation to yoga, to relaxation & more. Something about the sound, the performances, the context, found, built & maintained a much wider audience than most, far more mainstream music, all without hype, marketing or a dedicated record label supporting the release.

Extending the idea, Theo worked with producer Steven Wilson, (who has previously mixed and mastered many of Theo’s solo recordings & in whose band Theo has played) to produce a new duduk improvisation in multi-channel audio as well as stereo, with soundscapes assembled by Steven Wilson from Theo’s alto flute playing. The result is a stunning & utterly unique piece of work which helps to define new possibilities for so-called “Immersive audio”, without losing focus on the pure sound of the duduk improvisations which have struck such a chord with a wide & growing audience online.

The new piece ‘Aeolus’ (again, one hour long) appears in Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD MA 5.1 Surround Sound & 24/96 high resolution stereo on the Blu-ray & in standard 16/44 audio on the accompanying CD. Pre-orders now open on burning shed (see link above)

AEOLUS: Composed by Theo Travis & Steven Wilson

Theo Travis – Duduk & Alto flute

Steven Wilson – Production & Soundscapes

Ancient Soul, Modern Times: Composed by Theo Travis

Theo Travis – Duduk & Soundscapes

Comments on Theo’s One Hour Duduk Meditaitons

“I think God wanted to gift humanity an instrument to remind them of Him and this how we ended up with such divine sounds “

“This is the most melancholic sounding and most beautiful instrument on earth. Thank you.”

“Duduk touches my soul like no other instrument”

“The sound of the Duduk is totally different from all the music I have heard. Once your consciousness, your awareness connects with this sound fully, it empties the mind of self-centred thoughts and gives a blissful feeling!”

“Amazing divine sound of Armenian duduk when I feel overwhelmed and at lowest lows, I listen to this and it's the only music that helps me”

“When I feel emotionally high or overwhelmed and carried away from reality, I instantly turn to the sounds of the duduk, to bring me back down, planted, rooted and stay real. It’s really an antidote for my soul. Greetings, Armenia....! Much love from Canada.”

“Certainly one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have ever heard. Sounds very, very ancient and haunting. “

“Theo is a gem, love his work with Soft Machine”

“It elevates my soul to higher places beyond earth “

“So poignant, so serene, so soulful... Thank you for this”

 See also Theo’s YouTube channel  @TheoTravisOfficial