Your Guide to Philly Loves Bowie Week
The citywide celebration pays tribute to the Starman with concerts, dance parties, and more.
Starman, the Bowie tribute band / Photograph courtesy of Philly Loves Bowie Week
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. (Brett’s bar, which remains temporarily closed, is covered in memorabilia.) And now, on the 10th anniversary of Bowie’s death, they’ve once again put together a week of events celebrating his groundbreaking music, art, and life. Philly Loves Bowie Week runs from January 2nd to 10th, 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 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.
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 Ardmore Music Hall (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 that night (see below).
January 2nd, noon, Ardmore Music Hall, 23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore.
Bowie Birthday Bash at Ardmore Music Hall
If you missed Candy Volcano on WXPN or just want more, they’re back on Friday night for a concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bowie’s Station to Station album — they’ll play the album, plus more classics.
January 2nd, 8 p.m., Ardmore Music Hall, 23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore.
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 3rd, 7:30 p.m., City Winery, 990 Filbert Street.
haZy cosmic jive at Brooklyn Bowl
This Philly-based Bowie tribute band — as you probably gathered from their name — favors the artist’s glam-rock Ziggy era. But this year, they’ll also be dipping into the “Thin White Duke” era, playing Station to Station, which turns 50, in its entirety.
January 9th, 8 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, 1009 Canal Street.
A Night of Stardust
Philly Loves Bowie Week’s grand finale takes place at Union Transfer with an all-out tribute concert featuring live vocalists and bands — including Philly favorite Johnny Showcase — to celebrate the Starman. Celebratory dress is welcome, and the show is all-ages. This event has sold out every year, so get in while you can.
January 10th, 8 p.m., Union Transfer, 1026 Spring Garden Street.
Parties
Dance to Bowie vinyl sets at the Trestle / Photograph by Ian Cross
Bowie Masquerade at Johnny Brenda’s
For its eighth year, the Bowie Masquerade Ball️ returns with DJ Baby Berlin and DJ JEM spinning Bowie (obviously), plus Bowie-inspired drag performances, a photo booth, themed drinks, a Stardust DIY glitter bar, and, of course, a Bowie costume contest.
January 2nd, 9 p.m., Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 Frankford Avenue.
Let’s Dance! A Bowie Blitz Dance Party
For its 11th year running, 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 3rd, 8 p.m., Broad Hall, 699 North Broad Street.
Listening Party: David Bowie: Side By Side
Looking for a more chill way to listen to Bowie than an all-out dance party? Old City’s 48 Record Bar is celebrating Philly Loves Bowie Week with an extended listening session of classic Bowie album sides in their cozy listening lounge.
January 7th, 5 p.m.-2 a.m., 48 Record Bar, 48 South 2nd Street.
Sound & Vision Happy Hour at the Trestle Inn
This annual Philly Loves Bowie Week vinyl and go-go dance party features DJs Hard Bargain and The Slinky Vagabond spinning Bowie on vinyl, go-go by Jeannie Jones and Cynthia Rose, and happy hour specials including the “Young Americans Sour.” ($1 from each of those cocktails goes to CHOP.)
January 9th, 6-9 p.m., Trestle Inn, 11th and Callowhill streets.
Bowie and Prince Night at Underground Arts
Riot Nerd gets in on the action with DJ George Purkins spinning Bowie and Prince (both of whom we lost in 2016), Bowie and Prince look contests, themed drinks and decor, and photo ops.
January 9th, 9 p.m., Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill Street.
Fun and Games
Bowie Beer Yoga
Instructor Jake Panasevich leads a David Bowie-inspired yoga flow in the Future Days taproom, followed by a beer. All levels are welcome — bring your own mat and be sure to register in advance.
January 4th, 11 a.m.-noon, Future Days, 433 Fairmount Avenue.
Bowie Quizzo
Test your Bowie knowledge with a night of trivia hosted by none other than Sigma Kid extraordinaire Patti Brett — plus DJ Robert Drake with “a wall-to-wall Bowie (and friends) music mix.” The first round starts at 8 p.m., and there’s no cover to get in.
January 8th, 8 p.m., Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar, 1200 East Passyunk Avenue.
Bowieoke
Sara Sherr of Sing Your Life Karaoke returns to host an all-Bowie edition with DJ Robert Drake. The event is free to attend, but fills up fast, so get there early and pick your song!
January 8th, 8 p.m., Milkboy, 11oo Chestnut Street.
For the Kids
WXPN Kids Corner: Peter and the Wolf
Want yet another Bowie-Philly connection? In 1978, he narrated the story of Peter and the Wolf to accompany the Philadelphia Orchestra’s performance of the Prokofiev piece. (Eugene Ormandy conducted.) It was a recording created for kids — and he had a young son at the time, so it’s even more wholesome. You can listen to the whole thing on WXPN’s Kids Corner on January 6th — 88.5 FM or stream on xpn.org.
January 6th, 7 p.m., listen anywhere.
