What do you get when you throw together former members of Groovechild, The Screen and One Hand Free? You get The Demon. The brand new band will play its first ever gig at The Stone Church in Newmarket on Friday, Jan. 13.

The bill for that evening also includes a set from Pennsylvania-based duo XVSK, consisting of cellist/vocalist Trevor Exter and drummer/percussionist John Morgan Kimock, son of guitar legend Steve Kimock.

The Demon’s lineup features three veterans of the local rock community, including drummer Steve Ruhm (formerly of Groovechild and Say Zuzu), guitarist Rob Ziminski (of The Screen and formerly of Solid8), and Hammond organist Kelly Bower (formerly of One Hand Free). They unleash their inner demons with an experimental approach that blends classic rock, free jazz and metal.

The band has been rehearsing in preparation to record a debut album in the coming months, and they’re also planning to test the waters with some live gigs, beginning with the show in Newmarket. 

XVSK, too, plans to complete its debut album early in 2012. They’ve already released a free live album and EP on their website, and they’re planning a musical interpretation of the movie “Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind” sometime this month. Exter and Kimock play rootsy, indie Americana with a jazzy twist.

The show begins at 9 p.m. at The Stone Church, 5 Granite St., Newmarket, 603-659-7700. The cover charge is $6.