On the first anniversary of his death, Dublin will celebrate the astounding life and work of David Bowie, musician, songwriter, actor, transgressive icon, husband, father and everything else in between.
Taking place across a variety of venues around the city, but centred on the Grand Social, the Dublin Bowie Festival runs from Thursday 5th January across the weekend and until the first anniversary of his death – also his birthday – on Tuesday 10th January when the festival will be capped off by a vigil at the Grand Social. There is an array of musical tributes, from Bowie covers band Rebel Rebel to the Ashes to Ashes Cabaret, and we’ve picked out three highlights from this loving tribute.
See the full festival line-up and buy tickets at dublinbowiefestival.ie
Lazarus & The Man Who Fell To Earth
Thursday 5 January | The Sugar Club | 7.30pm
One of the very last projects Bowie worked on before his death on January 10th of this year was the musical Lazarus. The musical, for which he wrote music and lyrics, featured some crossover with his last studio album, Blackstar, and drew inspiration from the Walter Tevis novel The Man Who Fell To Earth – a movie adaption of which Bowie had famously starred in the late ’70s.
A key part of Lazarus, however, was Irish playwright Enda Walsh who wrote the “book” – i.e. the libretto, or narrative – for the musical. Walsh is known for his work on numerous successful projects, from arthouse films like Disco Pigs to the musical Once to plays like Ballyturk. After a screening of the newly repolished 40th anniversary edition of Nicolas Roeg’s film of The Man Who Fell To Earth, Walsh will take part in a Q&A session about the making of Lazarus which promises to be a touching and intriguing affair.
Critical Perspectives
Monday 9th January | The Winding Stair | 6pm, Free
Having already organised the first ever academic conference on the subject of David Bowie in October 2012, editors Eoin Devereux, Aileen Dillane and Martin J. Power were doubtless the right people to put together the new collection David Bowie: Critical Perspectives, published by Routledge, which celebrates its launch at this event as part of Dublin Bowie Festival. The Winding Stair will host a sit down with the editors to discuss some of the variety of perspectives taken by the book’s authors when discussing the unequalled cultural output of the Thin White Duke.
I Heart Bowie
Saturday 7th January | Opium Rooms | 7.30pm, €17.50
A few days after Bowie’s passing, Whelan’s played host to a celebration of his music with an array of guests contributing on the night. For the festival, the Opium Rooms will play host to a reprise of the I Heart Bowie concept, with a backing band of some of Ireland’s finest musicians and contributions on vocals from Glenn Hansard, Bell X1, Jack L, Gavin James and more.
The Dublin Bowie Festival runs from Thursday 5th January until Tuesday 10th January
See the full festival line-up and buy tickets at dublinbowiefestival.ie
