Bringing back a great band

9:56am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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Preview - Darkside; The Floyd Experience, The Garrick THEY are one of the most influential rock bands of all time and they've sold a staggering 200 million records worldwide.

To put that into perspective, Pink Floyd's album sales represent more than triple the current UK population.

Later this month Trafford music fans will get the chance to savour some of the band's classic tracks when Floyd tribute act Darkside perform at Altrincham Garrick.

The group started in 2005, although guitarist Andy Baker and vocalist/guitarist Chris Clowsley cut their musical teeth on the pub circuit. While Darkside have only been paying homage to their heroes for the past four years, Andy and Chris have been fans since their schooldays. What makes the material so special?

"I guess, like most people, music needs to make an emotional connection between times and places. Floyd seemed to have the knack of producing something that just hit the right spot at the right time. A mixture of innovation, well crafted melodies and words that had a little more to them than many of their contemporaries were producing at the time coupled with the huge range of styles that they employ makes it so that there is probably something in there for everyone," says Andy.

If you go to the gig at the Garrick you can expect to hear a set that incorporates everything from what he describes as "biggies" like Echoes to more "quirky" numbers like Lucifer Sam, one of the numbers written by the group's troubled former lead singer Syd Barrett. Andy's favourite Floyd song is Shine On You Crazy Diamond, a composition he admires for its "haunting" beauty.

Supposing he had the chance to play with the original Pink Floyd - which era would he choose and why?

"Picking a favourite Floyd era is a tricky but if pushed I guess it would be from 1970 to 1975, covering the Meddle, The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here albums," he says.

There's no shortage of tribute bands these days, covering everyything from the music of 60s legends The Doors to the songs of a quartet with no shortage of Trafford connections - The Smiths. Does Andy believe groups like this are taken more seriously than they used to be?

"The tribute' scene has grown and audiences show there is a market for it, which is why we feel so strongly that the audience should get a real, full live show and not some potted karaoke event," he says. Rick Bowen * Altrincham Garrick presents Darkside, The Floyd Experience on May 31 at 8pm. Tickets are available from 0161 928 1677.