Arguably best known for its gleaming spires, the punts on the River Cam and its long history as one of the most prestigious seats of learning in the world, Cambridge will forever be tied to Pink Floyd and especially their former leader Syd Barrett.
A Tribute To Syd Barrett – Official 80th Anniversary Celebrations
Cambridge Corn Exchange – 10 October 2026
Words and Photography: Paul Monkhouse
Having put the band together with three like-minded souls in 1965, he helped shape the legendary act in ways that became indelibly marked in both their DNA and that of the music industry, his departure from the outfit in 1968 seeing both him and the band move into pastures afresh.
After a solo career lasting for seven years, his leaving music behind was its loss and the art world’s gain as he turned his not inconsiderable skills to painting. Famously becoming something of a recluse in his later years, there was still a creative and passionately beating heart there, and that remained until his passing at the age of sixty in 2006.
Fast forward twenty years and after a mountain of work by all involved, Cambridge’s Corn Exchange welcomes a sold-out house to the chance to revel in the Madcap’s music for a mammoth seven-hour show featuring various acts who knew or were influenced by him.
MC’d by DJ Neil Jones and featuring some stunning work by renowned artist Mark Wilkinson, along with a constantly shifting liquid light show all the way from Los Angeles courtesy of The Mad Alchemist, this was an all-immersive treat that drew people from all over the world, such was the power of Barrett’s spirit to capture the hearts and minds of so many.
Opening the show, Pünk Floyd came all the way from Sweden to join the celebrations, their acoustic set at the previous anniversary show being so well received that their place was assured. There is a genius in their arrangements of the songs made famous by Syd Barrett and early Floyd, stripping them back for quirky and always entertaining takes on numbers like The Scarecrow, Arnold Lane and Baby Lemonade.
Whilst there is a huge sense of fun here, the passion they have for the material bleeds out of every note and this combination makes their set the perfect way to kick off the day.
With a delightful sudden turn to something different, young Glasgow outfit Radhika are a thrilling proposition, their blend of dreamy pop with Indian influences certainly grabs attention. Outstanding self-penned material like Starry Eyes points to a very bright future for the quintet, and there is the feeling that we are witnessing something special happening in its early stages here.
It is with the covers they earn their name on the bill today, though, as Mathilda Mother sounds great and their take on Strawberry Switchblade’s Since Yesterday hums with life and spark. Definitely ones to watch.
Next up, Diana Silvera and The Psychedelic Circus knocked things out of the park and managed to stun the assembled throng into absolute silence. With her band red hot and smoking, the huge, funky and soulful opener was something that instantly demanded bodies and feet move, Silvera’s vocals outstanding.
An all-too-brief four-song set flew by, and whilst her take on Barrett’s Octopus was excellent, it was what happened next that became, for many, the highlight of the day. Accompanied just by keys player Emily Francis performing a stunning and extended intro, Silvera sang a clear, heartfelt and yet free of any histrionics vocal for Shine On You Crazy Diamond that left many breathless, and the standing ovation the two were rewarded with was utterly well deserved. A reportedly last-minute addition to their set, this stole the day.
Men On The Border brought a different type of rock ‘n’ roll and their propulsive set was electric and nonstop. Mixing numbers from Floyd and Barrett, Astronomy Domine and Gigolo Aunt and Apples & Oranges were played with heft, Arnold Laine seeing the band accompanied on vocals by Rachel Barrett.
Yet more was to come as the Swedes were joined by four members of a local orchestra to bring the thrilling and beautiful tones of a string quartet to the numbers, adding otherworldliness to Wined And Dined and Apples And Oranges. With additional numbers like their own, soaring The Promised Land, Men On The Border had certainly woken the place up and made several new friends themselves.
Old friends of Pink Floyd, Canterbury’s very own Soft Machine were kindred brothers to the Cambridge outfit, each pushing the limits and carving their own distinctive path. A furious No Good Trying opened the set, the band bringing all their unique jazz-rock and prog moves to bear, the sound brilliantly capturing the feeling of one foot in the past and one in the present.
The lengthy instrumental Ramadan brought out a more free-flowing feel to the occasion, the improvisations and virtuosity adding another aspect to the evening. With lead guitarist John Etheridge sharing amusing stories of some of his encounters with Barrett and Floyd, there was another peek behind the curtain that brought all involved just that much closer to the much-missed Syd.
Lost in this world, the time seemed to fly by, and it was time for headliners Kula Shaker to cap off the event in style. With their original line-up still intact from the nascent Britpop days, when the band brought their own distinct twist to the scene, there has always been something different in what they do.
Always eschewing what is expected of them, Crispian Mills, Alonza Bevan, Paul Winterhart and Jay Darlington create something larger than life and seemingly able to cross boundaries with ease. Given his eternally youthful looks, it would be easily possible to believe that Mills has his portrait locked away in an attic somewhere and his kinetic performance certainly showed that the love of music can keep you energised.
With Tattva, Golden Avatar and Govinda starting their set, it was soon time for the Syd numbers as numbers like Mathilda Mother, Interstellar Overdrive and Lucifer Sam brought the house down.
Capping off the night with a specially arranged Shine On You Crazy Diamond, all that was left was for the band to take their bows and a very happy audience to file out into the Cambridge sky.
As private as he was, you can be sure that Syd would have loved this, and his smiling and mysterious presence continues to be carried by all there and the devotees around the world.
He may be long gone, but there is still a love song in everyone’s heart for Syd Barrett, and tonight proved proof positive of that.
