Let’s Dance, Philly.
It’s time to once again celebrate the life and legacy of the one-and-only David Bowie, and Philadelphia always does it in style. The annual Philly Loves Bowie Week celebrates the Starman himself with a lengthy slate of parties, art exhibitions, Bowie beers and more.
Originated after his Jan. 10, 2016 death — and also coinciding with his Jan. 8 birthday — forever Bowie fan, “Sigma Kid” and Doobies’ bar owner Patti Brett, along with WXPN producer, DJ Robert Drake have once again gathered up the city’s musicians, artists, filmmakers, chefs, bakers, theater makers, craft brew masters, exhibition gallery curators, film presenters, and more in order to host and perform Bowie-themed celebrations —and it’s all for the benefit of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Cancer Center at CHOP.
Philly was long a Bowie town—he broke ‘Ziggy Stardust’ here, recorded albums such as ‘David Live’ in July 1974 at the Tower Theater, then ‘Young Americans’ that same year at N. 12th Street’s Sigma Sound Studio.
“The love for Bowie continues to be as powerful as always,” said Drake. “Each summer we wonder if the interest might be fading, but then as we enter the final months of the year, bands book their Bowie tribute shows, venues roll out their Bowie nights and dance parties and now, once again, the National Liberty Museum has embraced Bowie in their exhibit, which opens on the first night of Philly Loves Bowie Week, Friday, Jan. 5.”
Highlighting the opening of Old City’s National Liberty Museum’s newest sound-based exhibition, ‘Amplified: Art, Music, Power‘, its curators have focused on Philly’s favorite British singer-songwriter-pop cultural phenomenon with ‘Bowie Bash: Amplified.’ Here, a Bowie-inspired pop-up exhibition gallery, multimedia space and art sale features diverse artists from Philly and across the globe in joint celebration of “the liberating power of David Bowie and his persona.”
“At the National Liberty Museum, we understand that liberty, much like music, is both a deeply personal and shared experience,” wrote Dr. Elizabeth Grant, Chief Program Officer of the National Liberty Museum in a statement. “’Amplified: Art, Music, Power’ invites visitors to explore how music can both connect and divide us, to celebrate vital freedoms of expression and assembly, and consider what it means to be free.”
As for longstanding events at Philly Loves Bowie Week that have taken place since its start – musical stalwarts such as Kevin Monko’s Candy Volcano’s multiple showcases, the local all-star Night of Stardust at Union Transfer, Johnny Brenda’s Bowie Masquerade Ball, Patti Brett’s Doobies nights of special Bowie beers – the forever-favorites return en masse for 2024.
“There is such fervent love here for Bowie and you can feel it at our party,” said Trestle Inn owner Ian Cross of his annual Sound & Vision – A David Bowie Happy Hour Dance Party on Jan. 12. “Bowie was a performance artist at heart… And Bowie’s love affair with this city and the Sound of Philly soul music that we spin here at The Trestle Inn makes being part of Philly Loves Bowie Week special.”
Philly Loves Bowie Week takes place Jan. 5-13 at various venues throughout the city. For a complete list of events, visit phillylovesbowie.wordpress.com
