Many of you will recall that back on November 13th last year, we told you about an upcoming tribute to Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett, being held in his home town of Cambridge. On December 5th, the first public performance of The City Wakes, a multi-media arts tribute to Barrett, was held at the Centre at St Paul's, Hills Road, in Cambridge. The performance was a 'work in progress' towards the staging of a full production in 2008, featuring new versions of many Barrett-penned classics.

Syd's sister, Rosemary, has lent her support to The City Wakes by making a significant donation from the Syd Barrett Trust. "I am thrilled to be involved in this project. It's what Syd would have wanted." We now have more details of the full production, being held later this year...

The event, to be performed in Cambridge from October 22nd to November 2nd, 2008, is also benefiting from the close involvement of a number of Syd's friends.

Centred on reworkings of Syd's songs, the production will include a live performance by the Grasshopper's Green Herbarian Band, as well as fascinating new video work tracking Syd's art and the explosion of avant-garde culture in 1960s Cambridge.

Syd's life is also reflected in The City Wakes' more serious side. Developed in co-operation with community groups from around Cambridge, The City Wakes aims to highlight the role of the arts in mental health. Rosemary's support and the income generated by The City Wakes will go towards supporting the work of Escape Artists, a charity that provides arts-based education and support services to people with mental health problems, both in institutional settings and within the wider community.

Join The City Wakes' free mailing list - members will get priority booking on tickets, as well as receiving breaking news about the production. For more info on the event and the charity, visit www.thecitywakes.org.uk.