Concert: The Australian Pink Floyd Show
Venue: Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Sept. 7th, 2025
For more than three decades, The Australian Pink Floyd Show has been bringing the magic of Pink Floyd to audiences around the globe, and on September 6th at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Ft. Lauderdale, the band once again showed why they are the premier Floyd tribute act. Complete with dazzling visuals, pristine sound, and note-perfect performances, this particular tour carries special weight: the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Wish You Were Here.
The evening opened with the full album performance, a fitting tribute to one of Floyd’s most beloved records. The opening 4-note guitar refrain of “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I–V)” earned cheers from the anticipating audience, as the full band took hold. The song closed with the poignant image of Syd Barrett on the screen behind the band. The mechanical pulse of “Welcome to the Machine” was transcendent. It sounded as if listening to the record on headphones. Next was the sly groove of “Have a Cigar,” every moment delivered with precision and passion. The audience erupted in recognition when the gentle chords of the title track began, many singing along in unison. The suite concluded with “Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts VI–IX),” bringing the first chapter of the night to a poignant close. It was a breathtaking way to start the show.
The band greeted the audience and then continued the first set with a powerful mini-suite from The Wall. The dramatic opening of “In the Flesh?” segued into “The Happiest Days of Our Lives” and the crowd favorite “Another Brick in the Wall, Part 2.” The oversized teacher figure towered over the band and crowd. The sequence carried through to Part 3 and the stark “Goodbye Cruel World,” as the first half closed with the simple words “Goodbye.”
After the intermission, the second half opened with a signature song from the Syd Barrett era, “Astronomy Domine,” a psychedelic burst that immediately re-energized the audience. From there, the set unfolded like a greatest-hits journey: the chiming clocks of “Time” blending into the atmospheric reprise of “Breathe,” and the emotional powerhouse of “The Great Gig in the Sky” with its soaring vocals that brought the crowd to its feat. The three female background singers each took a turn leading the track, each with a brilliant turn.
The momentum continued with a rousing “Money,” before shifting into later-era Floyd. “Sorrow,” from A Momentary Lapse of Reason, brought a darker, heavier edge with some monstrous guitar work, while “Marooned” and “Coming Back to Life” from The Division Bell captured the lush, expansive sound of the ’90s. The heavy bass rumble of “One of These Days” had the room vibrating and brought out a massive Kangaroo prop jumping up and down, thrilling the crowd. “Run Like Hell” brought the main set to a thrilling close, lights and lasers in full force.
The encore, of course, was “Comfortably Numb,” delivered with all the grandeur and emotional weight one could hope for. The guitar solos, paired with the swirling visuals, brought the night to a breathtaking finale, the kind of moment that lingers long after the last note fades.
The Australian Pink Floyd Show continues to prove itself more than just a tribute band. They are torchbearers of a legacy, and in Ft. Lauderdale, they gave fans a chance to relive the wonder of Pink Floyd’s music in all its glory. With Wish You Were Here at the center of the celebration and a career-spanning set surrounding it, this was a night that reminded everyone why Pink Floyd’s music remains timeless.
