Day-long event to mark anniversary of legendary concert.
A unique fiftieth anniversary celebration of Pink Floyd’s 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 3rd 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 fifty years ago as part of Pink Floyd were Roger Waters, Rick Wright and drummer Nick Mason, who was born in Edgbaston. Two years afterwards the group would return to Birmingham to record the live album Ummagumma at Mothers club in Erdington. They went on to 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 3pm to 6pm 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 eight member tribute band Dark Side of the Wall 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 events throughout the whole country. Advance tickets 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 -ong 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 Hare & Hounds”.