A major new charity album celebrating the extraordinary music, creativity and enduring influence of Syd Barrett will be released on 9 October 2026, it marks what would have been the pioneering songwriter, artist and Pink Floyd co-founder’s 80th birthday year. Clowns and Jugglers, The Songs of Syd Barrett brings together brand-new studio recordings, previously unreleased material and standout live performances from an extraordinary line-up of artists influenced and inspired by Barrett.
Among the album’s highlights is David Gilmour’s performance of ‘Arnold Layne’ featuring David Bowie on vocals, alongside recordings from Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets, Kula Shaker, Soft Machine, Mystery Jets, Martha Wainwright, Robyn Hitchcock, Rosalie Cunningham, Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats, Love with Johnny Echols, Henge and many more.
Spanning Barrett’s groundbreaking work with Pink Floyd and his celebrated solo catalogue, the album offers new interpretations and remarkable recordings of songs including See Emily Play, Arnold Layne, Astronomy Domine, Octopus, Terrapin, Bike, Lucifer Sam, Baby Lemonade and Golden Hair.
The collection has been mastered by Jon Astley, whose credits include The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, The Who and David Bowie. The album’s sleeve features one of Syd Barrett’s most iconic images and has been created by Mark Wilkinson, famous for Iron Maiden, Marillion and Judas Priest sleeves.
It will be released exclusively as a double coloured vinyl album and double CD, The double CD edition will also contain additional bonus material unavailable on the vinyl release.
Proceeds from the album will be donated to mental health charities. A wider official programme supported by the Barrett family and organised by Neil Jones, Mark Wilkinson and Rob Ayling to celebrate Syd Barrett’s 80th birthday year will also raise money for mental health charities.
Following the album’s release, a spectacular live concert will take place at Cambridge Corn Exchange on 10 October (World Mental Health Day), headlined by Kula Shaker and featuring bands influenced and inspired by Syd Barrett such as Soft Machine, Men on the Border, Diana Silveira & The Psychedelic Circus, Radhika, and Pünk Floyd, with additional surprise guests set to be announced. The concert was announced in July and has already sold out. Barrett played his last ever live performance at the Cambridge Corn Exchange on 24 February 1972, making this the perfect venue to celebrate his life and body of work.
Alongside the album and concert, an exhibition exploring Barrett’s life, art and cultural impact will open on Saturday 3rd October – 10 October at Openspace – 54a Cherry Hinton RD, CB1 7AA https://bio.site/CamOpen.space The exhibition will showcase original paintings and prints by Syd Barrett, alongside prints of larger works. Visitors will also be able to view work by a number of guest artists, including Barrett’s nephew Ian Barrett, Mark Wilkinson, Mick Rock, Spadge Hopkins, Mikey Georgeson, James Wilkinson and Justin Wiggan & Dominick Allen.
Neil Jones co-organiser of the events, said: “Eighty years after his birth, Syd Barrett’s influence remains as powerful as ever. His music, creativity and unique vision continue to inspire artists and audiences across generations. It’s especially fitting that this celebration takes place in Cambridge, the city at the heart of his story. Bringing together live music, art and a new album on World Mental Health Day is a fitting tribute to one of the city’s most extraordinary cultural figures“.
Rosemary Breen, Barrett’s sister, said: “The family wholeheartedly support these exciting events in aid of mental health charities. Syd would have been so happy and honoured to know his music was still being enjoyed in Cambridge.”
Clowns and Jugglers, The Songs of Syd Barrett
Vinyl track order
Side 1
- Arnold Layne Pink Floyd / Rick Wright vocal
- Astronomy Domine Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets
- See Emily Play Martha Wainwright
- Love You Mystery Jets
- Chapter 24 Violeta de Outono
- Two Of A Kind Dave Harris & Zeus B Held
Side 2
- No Good Trying/Interstellar Overdrive Kula Shaker
- Apples & Oranges Voyage 35
- Gigolo Aunt (Live at Acheron) Robyn Hitchcock
- Lucifer Sam Rosalie Cunningham
- Golden Hair Tim Bowness
- Effervescing Elephant Jim Sclavunos
Side 3
- Rhamadan (edit) Soft Machine
- Long Gone Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats
- Matilda Mother Radhika ft. Norman Blake & Future Pilot AKA
- Scream Thy Last Scream Men On The Border
- Bike Pünk Barrett
Side 4
- Octopus (edit) Diana Silveira x The Psychedelic Circus
- Baby Lemonade Love with Johnny Echols
- Terrapin Henge
- Late Night Theo Travis / RichKo vocal
- Arnold Layne David Gilmour / David Bowie vocal
Clowns and Jugglers, The Songs of Syd Barrett
CD track order
Disc one
- Arnold Layne (Live At The Barbican) Pink Floyd / Rick Wright Vocal
- Astronomy Domine (Live At The Roundhouse) Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets
- See Emily Play Martha Wainwright
- Love You Mystery Jets
- Chapter 24 (Live In São Paulo) Violeta De Outono
- No Good Trying/Interstellar Overdrive Kula Shaker
- Apples & Oranges Voyage 35
- Octopus Diana Silveira X The Psychedelic Circus
- Lucifer Sam Rosalie Cunningham
- Golden Hair Tim Bowness
- Effervescing Elephant Jim Sclavunos
- Scream Thy Last Scream Men On The Border
- Bike Pünk Barrett
- Rhamadan Soft Machine
Disc two
- Matilda Mother Radhika Ft. Norman Blake & Future Pilot A.K.A.
- Gigolo Aunt (Live At Acheron) Robyn Hitchcock
- Baby Lemonade LOVE with Johnny Echols
- Terrapin Henge
- Two Of A Kind Dave Harris & Zeus B Held
- Long Gone Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats
- Late Night Theo Travis / Richko Vocal
- Love Song La Forma Delle Nuvole
- Golden Hair Jennifer Gentle
- Scarecrow Pünk Barrett
- Here I Go Martin Stephenson
- Apples & Oranges Men On The Border
- Dominoes Sterling Roswell Mary Stuart and Tre
- Opel Stone Anthem
- Candy and a Currant Bun Crystal Teardrop
- Wined and Dined Dream Machine
- No Man’s Land David Devant and his Spirit Wife
- Maisie Warmduscher
- Arnold Layne (Live at The Albert Hall) David Gilmour / David Bowie Vocal
