On Thursday June 17th the Tunbridge Wells Forum in England will be playing host to four bands all inspired by the late Syd Barrett, the original singer, songwriter and lead guitarist in Pink Floyd. The four bands have come out in force to raise money for the Syd Barrett Fund, set up by his sister Rosemary Breen following his death in 2006. The fund exists to support the work of Escape Artists, a socially inclusive arts charity, based in Cambridgeshire and London.
The Forum has been chosen as Escape Artists are teaming up with Luddite Explorations, the founder of which Ludger Wilmott is a massive fan of Syd Barrett.
The event is part of the Syd Barrett Fund’s activity to mark forty years since Syd’s debut solo album was released, something which the UK’s number 1 music magazine Mojo published a cover feature celebrating earlier this year.
The Tunbridge Wells Forum show follows a London to Cambridge walk organised by the Fund, which saw a group of Syd Barrett fans raise more than £2600 over Easter.
The Tunbridge Wells event precedes a gig at 93 Feet East in London this July, and features a line up which reflects the diverse range of musicians influenced by Syd Barrett.
‘Skinbat Scramble’ open up with a post punk, psychedelic wall of sound. Forming in the late 1970s as an improvised and randomly written prog goth electro psychedelic art school band from the Punk Scene of Medway and London, The Skinbats have seen numerous line up changes, the current collective includes Karl Gent once of Mumm-Ra. Front man Mark Eason is a captivating performer, reciting his lyrics in a confrontational poetic style over experimental sounds and melodies provided by the guitar, bass and keys.
www.skinbatscramble.co.uk
Hard rock duo ‘Criminal Suicide Ltd’ is made up of front man and guitarist James and C.A. Jones who is responsible for the soundscape of drum loops, samples, sequences and backing vocals. Put together these two create a dark and mysterious atmosphere with the help of some unusual lyrics.
www.myspace.com/criminalsuicideltd
‘Sissy and the Blisters’ brighten things up with their guitar driven garage with a dollop of pop. Their early demo track ‘Gang of Three’ drew comparisons to early Horrors and The Raveonettes.
www.myspace.com/sissyandtheblisters
Bringing the night to an upbeat close are South East England-based three piece ‘Luna Park Rescue’. Formed in 2007, their music touches on many styles, often described as alternative, electronic, indie and experimental. Made up of music and art students Antony Armstrong, Joe Stanley and Joe Page, Luna Park Rescue are known for combining electronic beats with guitars, all manor of electronic sounds and bringing a more experimental and unconventional approach to pop music, something that has earned them airplay on BBC 6Music and BBC Radio Kent.
www.myspace.com/lunaparkrescue
Expect energetic performances, psychedelic noise and perhaps a few cover versions of Syd’s inspirational work, that said, it wouldn’t be a tribute to Syd Barrett if we knew exactly what was going to happen.
Tickets are £6, and can be bought from here:
http://www.twforum.co.uk/listings/
Source [ Escape Artists ]
