A 50th birthday party at PYRA

I recently had the pleasure of working again with a lovely returning family, this time for a 50th birthday celebration at PYRA in Queen’s Park. Tucked away on a small side street full of independent bars and restaurants, PYRA has a warm, local feel that suited the occasion perfectly.

We first met this family at their son’s Bar Mitzvah last year, so it was great to reconnect. This time, the wife was planning a thoughtful birthday evening for her husband, and with the date falling on the 4th of July, she added a USA/Trump theme to tie everything together which was so fun!

For the first part of the evening, I kept the music gentle and atmospheric, ideal for guests arriving and catching up over cocktails and canapés. Knowing the family are big Ibiza fans, I put together a chilled sundowner-style set with mellow house, Café del Mar classics and Balearic favourites. It gave the room an easy, welcoming energy that everyone settled into quickly.

Later on, I included a short medley of number-one hits from the past 20 years, a special request from the host. It was a fun piece to create and brought a nice nostalgic moment to the night, with plenty of smiles as guests recognised the tracks.

It was a lovely evening all round, with great people, a welcoming venue and a musical backdrop tailored to the atmosphere the family wanted to create. Always a pleasure to work with them, and a really enjoyable way to mark a milestone birthday.