November 15, 2017

Pink Floyd 50th Anniversary Celebration to be held in King’s Heath on 3 December 

A unique 50th Anniversary celebration of Pink Floyd’s legendary performance at the now sadly burnt down Ritz Ballroom next to the Hare and Hounds in King’s Heath is to be held on Sunday 3 December.

Still fronted at that time by the charismatic but increasingly erratic Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd’s appearance in December 1967 was one of their first in the Midlands and came shortly after the release of their second single See Emily Play and their first album The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn. On the same bill that night were The Rare Breed including Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler who would later find fame and fortune as members of Black Sabbath.

Joining Syd Barrett on the tiny Ritz Ballroom stage 50 years ago as part of Pink Floyd were Roger Waters, Rick Wright and drummer Nick Mason who was born in Edgbaston, Birmingham. Two years afterwards the group would return to Birmingham to record the live album Ummagumma at Mothers Club in Erdington.

50 years later they have become one of the most bestselling and influential groups of all time and were earlier this year the subject of a major retrospective exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

From 3 pm to 6 pm a great selection of local musicians including Peters & Dog whose recent single was about Syd Barrett will perform their favourite Pink Floyd songs at Fletchers Bar on York Road

Tickets cost £4 in advance from the Kitchen Garden Cafe or £4.40 from www.wegottickets.com/event/411887

Any remaining tickets will cost £5 on the door.

At 7 pm doors will then open at the Hare & Hounds opposite for an amazing two and a half hour full lighting and laser show by the award winning 8 member tribute band Dark Side Of The Wall who last year celebrated their 20th Anniversary. Expect to hear a great selection of Pink Floyd songs from their extensive back catalogue performed by a fantastic tribute band who regularly play major sold out events throughout the whole country.

Included in the set will be Another Brick In The Walk, Money, Wish You Were Here, Comfortably Numb and  Shine On Crazy Diamond – Pink Floyd’s tribute to their founder Syd Barrett who died of cancer in 2006.

Advance Tickets are selling fast and cost £8 from Kitchen Garden Cafe or £8 + Booking Fee from www.skiddle.com/e/13064574

Any remaining tickets will cost £10 on the door

Local residents Bob Prew and Ken Whittaker, who have organised the day long Pink Floyd Festival, said “King’s Heath has an amazing musical heritage that we are determined to continue to celebrate. Not only did Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks and The Move all play at the Ritz Ballroom in the 1960’s at the start of their careers but more recently UB40, Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding and Laura Mvula all made early performances at the award winning Hare & Hounds”.

Dark Side Of The Wall’s long serving bass player Steve Chilton said ” We are delighted to be headlining this Pink Floyd 50th Anniversary event. We love what we do and aren’t afraid to let the audience know that. Pink Floyd’s music and persona are often perceived as quite serious but whilst we perform their music with the love and respect it deserves, we always bring our own personalities to the stage. Playing this music is great fun and hopefully the audience pick up on that when they see the band fully committed to what we do and loving every moment of every song. That’s what a Dark Side Of The Wall show is all about – quality live music and a great night out for both the band and the audience”.