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Syd Barrett Tribute Concert















The late, great Syd Barrett will be given a posthumous tribute at London’s Barbican venue. Or, in the words of the promoters, Syd’s spirit will be “invoked.” No less than producer/author Joe Boyd (profiled in the current, May, issue of HARP, incidentally) along with Nick Laird-Clowes are producers of the even, that will include such storied guests as Kevin Ayers, Vashti Bunyan, Chrissie Hynde and Robyn Hitchcock.

Here’s the breakdown, courtesy of the Barbican:

The spirit of Syd Barrett is invoked by an all-star line-up of music and lights. The many guests include Kevin Ayers, The Bees, Vashti Bunyan, Mike Heron, Robyn Hitchcock, Chrissie Hynde, Captain Sensible, Sense of Sound choir+ more tbc. The house band includes, Andy Bell on bass (Oasis), Simon Finley on drums (Echo & The Bunnymen), Ted Barnes on guitar (Beth Orton).

Syd Barrett was an eccentric genius and the founding member of Pink Floyd, and his creative legacy and quintessential English vocal delivery has proven remarkably influential. An obscure figure whose life-long struggle with mental illness shortened his creative period in music to only 7 years, however during that short time such classics as Arnold Layne and See Emily Play and Floyds first album The Piper at The Gates of Dawn were all written and recorded. Recently David Bowie, Bobby Gillespie, Brian Eno and Jimmy Page have all paid personal tribute to the 'Crazy Diamond'.

Lighting Design by Peter Wynne Willson
Producers, Joe Boyd, Nick Laird-Clowes
Plus Rare film footage, and projections of Syd Barrett's paintings.
Produced by the Barbican

For more details—you might want to inquire about plane flights to London first, of course—go to the official Barbican website.

Meanwhile, Mr. Boyd emailed us to let us know of an article he wrote about Syd titled “Syd Barrett: The king of freak London.” You can read it online at Britain’s Independent website

Source: www.harpmagazine.com

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