Your Guide to Philly Loves Bowie Week

The citywide celebration pays tribute to the Starman with art, concerts and more.

Philly Loves Bowie Week

Bowie fan art at National Liberty Museum’s Philly Loves Bowie Week pop-up exhibit. / Photograph by Laura Swartz

While he has always seemed otherworldly, David Bowie had deep connections to Philadelphia. His tenure here was brief, but it was a crucial period in the legendary musician’s eclectic career as he moved away from glam rock and into his “plastic soul” era inspired by the Sound of Philadelphia. In 1974 he recorded David Live at the Tower Theater (renaming his Diamond Dogs-fueled tour “Philly Dogs” along the way). He then followed it up by making Young Americans at Sigma Sound studios. It was during that period that the “Sigma Kids” were formed, the very superfans who began Philly Loves Bowie Week after the musician’s death in 2016.

Sigma Kid and Doobies owner Patti Brett told Philly Mag back in 2017:

In 1974, David Bowie was at the Tower Theater for a series of performances. He was staying at the Bellevue-Stratford at Broad and Walnut. He would sit on the steps and chat with everybody. One of the nights he was there, he told us he was going to be recording a new album at Sigma Sound [the album would come to be Young Americans], and that we should look for him. This was 1974 — there were no cell phones, no Internet, so we’d have to drive around and look for his car.

One night my friend called and said, “His car’s outside.” He was staying at the Barclay Hotel that time. So we sort of had a routine – we would wait for him, he would come out of the hotel, usually around 5 in the afternoon, and he’d take photos and chat with fans and get in his car and go to the studio. And then we would jump in our cars and run every red light to get to the studio before him, and we’d be waiting there when he got out again. It just sort of became a routine.

This went on for two weeks. At some point he went into his studio and said, “If you guys are out here when I come out, I have a surprise for you.”

When he came out he said, “We really appreciate everything that you’ve done in supporting the project. We want you to come up when we’re done laying tracks and listen to what we’ve done.”

And so we did.

Sigma Kids in front of Sigma Studios in 1974 during the recording of Young Americans

Brett and her fellow Sigma Kids have kept their love for Bowie alive over the years (her bar is covered in memorabilia), and once again they’ve put together a week of events celebrating his groundbreaking music, art, and life. Philly Loves Bowie Week runs from January 5th to 13th, encompassing both Bowie’s birthday (January 8, 1947), as well as the anniversary of his passing (January 10, 2016). A portion of the proceeds from the week’s events — as well as auction items from a special pop-up art exhibit — help benefit cancer research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The week includes everything from concerts to an all-out masquerade; here’s how to get involved.

Kickoff Party and Art Exhibit

Bowie Bash
First things first, National Liberty Museum returns as one of Philly Loves Bowie Week’s de facto hubs with their fourth annual Bowie Bash, pop-up gallery and art sale on Friday, January 5th. Hosted by Eric13 of tribute band Candy Volcano, the night features live music by Patrick Bamburak, Chris Huff, Shannon Turner, Rumi Kitchen, Kevin Monko with Lance Comet of Candy Volcano, and Flash Jordan with Wurli. There will also be Bowie-themed activities, and a cash bar will be serving up specialty cocktails from Tattooed Mom.

Philly Loves Bowie Week

Bowie timeline game at National Liberty Museum’s Bowie Bash / Photograph by Laura Swartz

The museum will open their pop-up Philly Loves Bowie art gallery that night, displaying local artists’ work celebrating Bowie’s legacy. The gallery will run through April 8th; all artwork is available for purchase, with a portion of proceeds donated to CHOP.

Finally, VIP tickets get you a private preview reception the museum’s new exhibit, Amplified: Art, Music, Power, which “celebrates music as an expression of liberty and a catalyst for personal and societal transformation.” The reception includes an open bar and meet-and-greet with the artists.
January 5th, 6:30-9 p.m. (VIP admission at 6 p.m.), National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut Street.

Concerts and Live Performances

WXPN Free at Noon with Candy Volcano
This Philly glam-rock band will kick the week off with a free concert at World Cafe Live (and broadcast on WXPN 88.5 FM or stream on xpn.org) on Friday at noon. The concert is free, but pre-registration is required online to get tickets. And if you can’t make it, don’t worry: Candy Volcano will be performing a full concert the next night (see below).
January 5th, noon, World Cafe Live, 3025 Walnut Street.

haZy cosmic jive at Brooklyn Bowl
This Philly-based Bowie tribute band is — as you probably gathered from their name — focused on the artist’s glam-rock Ziggy era. This year, they’ll also be playing favorites from David Live (recorded at Upper Darby’s Tower Theater during Bowie’s Diamond Dogs tour). The event is open to all ages, and bowling lanes will be open during the show.
January 6th, 8:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, 1009 Canal Street.

Candy Volcano at Ardmore Music Hall
If you missed them on WXPN or just want more, Candy Volcano is back the next day in Ardmore.
January 6th, 8 p.m., Ardmore Music Hall, 23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore. 

Philly Loves Bowie Week

Starman, the Bowie tribute band / Photograph courtesy of Philly Loves Bowie Week

Starman: The Bowie Tribute
This tribute act involves multiple costume changes, as well as a deep setlist that includes popular hits and album cuts.
January 6th, 7:30 p.m., City Winery, 990 Filbert Street.

A Night of Stardust
Philly Loves Bowie Week’s grand finale takes place at Union Transfer with an all-out tribute concert featuring five vocalists and a full band to celebrate the Starman. Celebratory dress is welcome: “We challenge concertgoers to be as outrageous as you can with fashion. Dress like you always wanted to be, but maybe never had a reason to do so in the past. Now’s your chance – Bowie would’ve wanted it that way!” This event has sold out every year, so get in while you can.
January 13th, 8 p.m., Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden Street.

Parties

Bowie Masquerade at Johnny Brenda’s
For its sixth year, the Bowie Masquerade Ball️ returns with DJ Baby Berlin and DJ JEM spinning Bowie (obviously), plus Bowie-inspired drag and burlesque performances, a photo booth, themed drinks, a Stardust DIY glitter bar, and of course a Bowie costume contest.
January 5th, 9 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Avenue.

Let’s Dance! A Bowie Blitz Dance Party
DJ Robert Drake hosts a “glamtastic” Bowie-inspired dance party under the Divine Lorraine. What’s not to love? Bowie-themed fashions are encouraged.
January 6th, 9 p.m.-2 a.m., Broad Hall, 699 North Broad Street.

Sound & Vision Happy Hour at the Trestle Inn
This annual Philly Loves Bowie Week vinyl and go-go dance party features DJs SoundinBetween and The Slinky Vagabond spinning Bowie on vinyl, go-go by Trestle Specials Farrah Fox and Prudence Farrow, and happy hour specials including the “Young Americans Sour.” ($1 from each of those cocktails goes to CHOP.)
January 12th, 6-9 p.m., Trestle Inn, 11th and Callowhill streets.

Dance to Bowie vinyl sets at the Trestle / Photograph by Ian Cross

Fun & Games

Bowieoke
Sara Sherr of Sing Your Life Karaoke returns to host an all-Bowie edition. The event is free to attend, but fills up fast, so get there early and pick your song!
January 10th, 8 p.m., Milkboy, 1100 Chestnut Street.

Bowie Quizzo at Doobies Bar
Sigma Kid and Doobies owner Patti Brett hosts an entirely Bowie-centric quiz night. (I’m not trying to brag, but I won the Zoom version of this back in 2021 when PLBW went virtual. Okay, maybe I’m bragging.) Special Bowie beers include Loving the Alien Saison, Young Americans Cranberry Sour, and Never Get Old IPA. A portion of each sale of Bowie beer will benefit CHOP. Doobies will also be showing Bowie movies and concert videos on Monday, January 8th and Tuesday, January 9th.
January 11th, 5-11 p.m., Doobies Bar, 2201 Lombard Street.