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The Australian Pink Floyd in Halifax
Folks lined the streets around the Scotiabank Centre last Friday evening, adorned with an array of Pink Floyd merch and ready to finish off the summer with a bang. We had The Australian Pink Floyd in Halifax to deliver another spectacular performance as part of their 1st Class Travelling Set World Tour 2024.
This marked my fourth experience with the show, and it proved to be just as exhilarating as the first. For those of us who grew up with Pink Floyd’s albums but never had the chance to see them live, this tribute act beautifully fills that void while honoring the band’s legacy. The sound was impeccable, the visuals were stunning, and the setlist was perfectly curated. It’s as close to the real experience as any fan could hope for.
The night opened with haunting tracks from The Dark Side of the Moon, including “Time” and “The Great Gig in the Sky.” Nailing the vocal demands of the latter is no small feat, but vocalists Lorelei McBroom, Emily Lynn, and Lara Smiles made it seem effortless. This moment never fails to give me chills; the power of their voices creates an unforgettable atmosphere. The arena was awash in deep blues and purples, complemented by serene visuals on the round screen in the background, enhancing the overall experience.
The mood shifted as the band performed “Breathe (In the Air),” with visuals that transitioned from playful Teletubbies to unsettling images of societal chaos. The tension was expertly released during the first epic light show of the evening, a mesmerizing display of lasers and floodlights that captivated the audience. As the song concluded, the arena dimmed, leaving only the halo lighting glowing like a fading sunset—a perfect segue into both parts of “Another Brick in the Wall.” The audience raved with anticipation as The Australian Pink Floyd went into intermission.
Act II
The band returned to the second act of the show with another Dark Side of the Moon classic, “Money,” one of my personal favourites – as a bassist myself, the groove in this song gets me every time. I also love a good saxophone solo, which this song delivers impeccably. Tribute was paid to the late Syd Barrett during “Wish You Were Here” as his face displayed on screen, eventually blending into an old photo of the original Pink Floyd bandmates. The tone stayed mellow with the performance of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” and saw the return of sax player Alex Francois for another sweet solo.
The light display around this part of the show is definitely a highlight for me. I can only describe is as a rainbow sea that I can’t look away from, blending with the accompanied lasers and smoke to make for a breathtaking sight. It’s fitting that this epic showing lead into one of the most palpable parts of the night. The band began to wrap up the show with “One of These Days,” where fans cheered at the unveiling of Skippy, the giant inflatable pink Kangaroo, and took in another jazzy lightshow. Another Australian Pink Floyd show staple – a giant inflatable pig – was out on display as the band played “Pigs.” Vocalist Chris Barnes engaged the seated crowd, getting them on their feet and clapping along as the band started into the song “Run Like Hell,” encouraging folks to move closer to the stage. It was a joyful moment amongst the crowd as the show concluded its second act.
The arena chanted for an encore and had their wish granted when the band returned for one last round, officially ending the night with a performance of “Comfortably Numb,” another fan favourite from 1979’s The Wall, and one last lightshow featuring a giant mirror ball reflecting white lights that made the inside of Scotiabank Centre look like a night sky. The band took a moment to express thanks to everyone in attendance and snapped a little video of the cheering audience, with the crowd showing its own appreciation for a fantastic night of music and spectacle.
Every time we have The Australian Pink Floyd in Halifax, it’s always a special time. Seeing fans across generations, and those in awe while taking in the show for the first time, come together and enjoy such a great night together is such an incredible sight. Until next time!
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