City Wakes 2: Ideas, Suggestions, Comments

[Syd Barrett Fund]

In 2008 we staged The City Wakes, a series of arts events in memory of Syd Barrett.

This took place in Syd’s home city of Cambridge, with the aim of one day bringing a similar event to London.

We’re now able to announce that we plan to host The City Wakes 2 in 2010.

The City Wakes started with the idea of staging a few arts events, in memory of Syd, as a launch pad for the Syd Barrett Fund. As time passed the event grew, as more and more people were inspired to get involved. By the time City Wakes kicked off, it had turned into a 6 week extravaganza hosting concerts, talks, exhibitions and workshops.

City Wakes 2 will be different for two reasons, firstly it’s location, and secondly, it’s size.

We plan to bring the City Wakes to London, and aim to contain the event within a smaller time scale, making it easier to manage, both from an organisational and attending point of view.

Aside from that, we’re starting from a blank page.

One of the great strengths of the 2008 City Wakes was its ability to capture the creative imagination and above all this is the spirit we want to retain.

We aim to host City Wakes 2 in one venue, but one which has the potential for a number of activities to run simultaneously: a music event in one room, a gallery in another, a workshop or creative area in another.

We’d like this to happen within the next year, so ideally the first half of 2010.

At this point we’re looking for suggestions for what we can do, be they big, small, obvious or outlandish. Any suggestions on where we could stage this, anything you think we should do, anything you could offer that you think would be suitable, please let us know.

We're entering into the unknown here to an extent, and have a fairly open ended timeframe for initial idea swapping. It will be interesting to see what comes up in the coming weeks and months.

As those of you that have read the Rosemary Breen interview will know, the long-term goal of the Syd Barrett Fund is to have a centre in Syd’s memory in Cambridge.

Rosemary said: “I can imagine, something like an old church, I wouldn't want a modern building because it wouldn't suit, and it would be wonderful if we could have classrooms where art and various creative things could be taught and then we could have an art gallery where we could show it, a cafe where anyone could just drop in, somewhere that was totally inclusive. It seems in life we separate ourselves too much, and I would really like somewhere where everyone could feel included and everyone was welcome.”

We hope the City Wakes 2 will be the starting point in the focus to fundraise so that Rosemary’s dream may one day become a reality.

[Helen]

What brilliant news!!! I'm sure The City Wakes 2 in London is going to be as wonderful and special as it was in Cambridge last year.

Best wishes to you all
Helen

[Anne Marchant]

Go for it!

[Helen]

It would be great to have all of the elements from the original City Wakes with a few added extras.

I found the exhibition of Syds artwork and Mick Rocks photos superb, and wondered if there could be a space for Syds fans artwork at CW2.

Another Happening would be fab, and a return of the UFO nightclub for one night only would be spectacular.

The people paintings were great fun, and it would be fantastic to do one enormous canvas at CW2 where everyone could get involved in a huge action painting.

I'd love to see the Grasshoppers Green again, and some talks would be terrific.

If anyone else would like to comment, or add to the list (sorry its so long) please do.

[Astrid Bornhak]

Unfortunately I couldn't attend The City Wakes in Cambridge and I'm very much looking forward to the London events. The former programme seemed to have been wonderful so I agree with Helen that it would be great to include a lot of the elements of the original City Wakes. In case the focus now will be stronger on Syd's London, I would love to see a few of the London underground key figures, such as John 'Hoppy' Hopkins, Peter Jenner, Peter Whitehead, Barry Miles and Mike Leonard giving talks or whatever they'd prefer to do if they would want to get involved...
I'm also keen on seeing the Grasshoppers Green and I like the idea about a space for Syds fans artwork as well as the repetition of a Happening or a UFO Club revival night. Most of all I'm looking forward to see the exhibition of Syds artwork plus Mick Rock photos and memorabilia and I was wondering whether the book "Syd: The City Wakes" will be available again, that would be wonderful. Last but not least I'd like to ask if there are any news concerning the official launch of the Syd Barrett fund, wasn't it scheduled for late summer?

Thank you for bringing The City Wakes to London and best wishes to you all
Astrid

[Anne Marchant]

I agree with both Astrid and Helen.

City Wakes Cambridge was just a brilliant event, one really got the feeling of knowing Roger (Syd) the person, rather than the hype the media misrepresented him as.

I already know what cover I'd have for the programme if possible (Please Mick!), there was a GORGEOUS black and white close up picture of Syd smiling directly into the camera, (it was on the ground floor of Syds art exhibition in Cambridge..made me weak at the knees! He was such a handsome lad...

It would be great to see the places that would have been "Syds" London.. Camberwell College of Art, Mike Leonards place, Earls Court, Tottenham Court Road - site of the original UFO club, the Roundhouse, "Granny takes a trip", Queen Elizabeth Hall, The Marquee club, Middle Earth, London Free School, Spontaneous Underground, Indica Gallery and Bookshop,All Saints Hall -Powis Square, Earlham Street, Sound Techniques Kings Road, Abbey Road - am sure theres more I've forgotten.


A happening would be a must.. bring back the UFO club for a night! Pete Wynne Wilsons lighting was beautiful in Cambridge and Bath. I really enjoyed the poetry from Andrew, Nigel and William.

Just wishful thinking, but I would love to see the mother of all canvases (very large) on a covered floor, for people to interpret Interstellar Overdrive to (played live) I visualise an action painting, but as lovely "Syd" (Roger) said, No Rules!


The Grasshoppers Green Hebarian Band are a must - loved their interpretation of Arnold Layne..Really punchy and upbeat!

Could Bob Close and some others play "Lucy leave"... I need to bop!

Really enjoyed the talks in Cambridge, and hope those that took part could do similar again. Could "Hoppy", Pete Jenner, Joe Boyd, and any other London "movers and shakers" get involved

An exhibition of Syd (Roger)s art would be wonderful to see again, together with Mick, Anthony Sterns, and Hoppys photographs. Maybe some of these images could be turned into postcards to raise funds.. thinking aloud..


If I have any other ideas I will keep you posted... Best of Luck to all!

Anne :)

[Helen]

Some interesting ideas - keep them coming. Would it be possible to include Nigel Waymouth as a speaker.

I understand he was the founder of Granny Takes a Trip and also Hapshash and the Coloured Coat (Artwork for the UFO Club).

[Julian Palacios]

Some ideas:

Locations:

- All Saints Hall - Scene of The Pink Floyd's formative early ‘Sound/Light workshop’ gigs. Granted, the original Vicarage is gone, but the Hall itself is a fantastic setting, with good acoustics.

All Saints Notting Hill
All Saints Vicarage
Powis Gardens
London W11 1JG
Tel: [phone]. Diocese of London. Fr John Brownsell SSC (Vicar) 020 7727 5919 ...

http://allsaintsw11.website.orange.co.uk/


Notting Hill Methodist Church - Scene of famous performances in the Sixties, when it doubled as 'The Crypt', among them AMM's fables 1968 recording for the album The Crypt.

http://www.findachurch.co.uk/churches/tq/tq28/nhmc/

http://www.nottinghillmethodistchurch.org/premises.htm





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[Julian Palacios]

Some ideas for performances:

- AMM: One of Britain's premier avant-garde ensembles. A massive influence on Syd Barrett, instrumental in shaping his improvisational guitar style. Syd watched their second recording session in July 1966 from the control booth,performed alongside them at the Spontaneous Underground, All Saint's, the Roundhouse and UFO. It would be nice to re-gather the remaining original members from 1966, all of whom are active.

Lou Gare: tenor saxophone, violin
Keith Rowe: guitar, transistor radio
Eddie Prévost: percussion
Lawrence Sheaff: cello, accordion, clarinet, transistor radio

http://www.matchlessrecordings.com/

- I.Overdrive Trio

Brilliant French jazz trio who released an album of Syd's songs done in avant-jazz form.

Philippe Gordiani (guit)
Bruno Tocanne (dms)
Rémi Gaudillat (tpt)

http://www.myspace.com/interstellaroverdrivetrio



- Syd's bandmates from Geoff Mott and the Mottoes, Those Without and Hollerin' Blues and early Pink Floyd:

- Stephen Pyle
- John Gordon
- Mick Clarke
- Geoff Mott
- Bob Klose
- Chris Dennis
- Clive Welham
- Alan 'Barney' Barnes

[Julian Palacios]

Some more:

- Marco Lenzi Ensemble

Chamber music renditions of Syd's tunes. Gorgeous!

Anthony Reynolds voice
Ornella Cerniglia piano
Francesco Carmignani violin
Chiara Morandi violin
Andrea Cattani viola
Ellie Young cello
Marco Lenzi voice, piano, conductor

http://www.myspace.com/marcolenzicomposer


- The Gnomes (Lawrence, Kansas)

Bluegrass renditions of Syd!

Dave Bruchmann (upright-bass player)
Rob Shoffner (banjo)
Jason Gordon (guitar)

http://www.pitch.com/2008-02-28/music/pickin-on-syd/

[Helen]

Wow Julian - Thanks for the great ideas (links as well - your marvellous!).

Best wishes
Helen

[Syd Barrett Fund]

Thanks for the suggestions. Please keep them coming. Just so you know I'm currently working on another, non EA/SBF project which is taking up a reasonable amount of my time at the moment so if it takes me a while to respond that's why, but I'm reading this stuff all the time.
In the next week or so I'll collect everything I've been sent together and post them on the blog.
Cheers
Simon

[Astrid Bornhak]

Thanks Julian, so much information!
I'm especially fond of the idea to re-gather the original members of AMM and letting them perform on the City Wakes 2 as I always wanted to find out more about them, sounds all very promising!