THE world-renowned Dublin Bowie Festival returns for its 8th edition from January 10th – 15th with another exciting program of live music, dance, art, film and cultural events dedicated to the iconic Starman.
This year sees the return of Bowie’s esteemed guitarist, musical director and co-songwriter Gerry Leonard to the Festival as he headlines two shows in Whelans.
Dubliner Leonard (pictured above) was famously ‘discovered’ by Bowie in a small New York city venue and quickly became one of his key collaborators from the year 2000 onwards.
His show on Friday 13th will be an ‘Audience with…’ while his Sunday show sees him team up with the boy wonder of Irish pop music, Late Late Show regular Shobsy for the Festival closing party.
Glasshouse
Other musical treats see the brilliant classical ensemble Glasshouse – fresh from their appearances at Electric Picnic and All Together Now – take on a range of Bowie classics in Opium on Thursday 12th of Jan while Ireland’s premier Bowie tribute band Rebel Rebel headline Opium on Saturday Jan 14th.
The Festival is also celebrating the 50th birthday of Bowie’s classic Aladdin Sane album – home of one of his greatest tracks, Jean Jeanie – and as a special treat the acclaimed 8-piece band Playback will perform the album in its entirety in Opium on Friday 13th of January.
They will also be hosting a listening party and panel discussion on the album with the venerable B.P Fallon, Gerry Leonard and visiting Bowie scholar Leah Kardos discussing the album’s merits and influence on popular music.
Kardos is an Australian music creator, writer and academic who also brings her fascinating Blackstar Theory presentation to the Festival, an audio-visual spin off from her book of the same name.
The book is an acclaimed study of Bowie’s last works and also tackles the biggest of ideas: identity, creativity, chaos, transience and immortality.
The stunning 17th century Rathfarnham Castle will host what’s sure to be a Festival highlight; Bowie – Icon, a massive exhibition of photographs of the rock star from across the decades by the renowned French photographer Philippe Aucliac.
Aucliac was an official chronicler of Bowie so a lot of his photos offer a fascinating glimpse into Bowie’s offstage movements and downtime while he also had premium stateside access to many of the superstars most iconic shows.
Other treats include The Bowie Ball with Today FM DJ Ed Smith, where Festival goers put on their red shoes and dance the blues and live sets by Festival regulars I Heart Bowie and Bowie 60’s specialists The London Boys.
Dublin Bowie Festival 2023 is in association with Guinness, Whelans and Opium.