A vigil, karaoke Bowie, and a Q&A with Irish playwright Enda Walsh are among the attractions at the second Dublin Bowie Festival, which takes place in the capital this January.
The expanded program of events, which was originally planned to celebrate Bowie’s 70th birthday, will run from January 5 to January 10, the first anniversary of Bowie’s death after an 18-month battle with cancer and just days after he released his last album, Blackstar.
Dublin playwright Walsh co-wrote the acclaimed stage musical Lazarus with Bowie, and he was one of the last people to work with the much-missed star.
Lazarus was inspired by Walter Tevis’ best-selling 1963 novel The Man Who Fell to Earth and features new songs specially composed by Bowie as well as new arrangements of previously recorded songs.
Walsh’s Q&A will be preceded by a screening of The Man Who Fell To Earth, Nicolas Roeg’s screen adaptation of Tevis’ book.
The I *heart * Bowie crew will reprise last year's tribute night with a host of special guests lined up to perform hits and album classics in their own styles.
The program also includes movie and documentary screenings, live music by Bowie tribute act Rebel Rebel, Q&As, debates and discussions, literary events, fashion, fine art, merchandise markets, a quiz, a Festival club, illustration and DJs.
Bowie had a long association with Ireland and in particular Dublin and played the city many times in his long career including a headline show at Slane Castle in 1987 and an early performance of his breakthrough hit Space Oddity on RTÉ television in 1969.
Watch an interview with David Bowie on the banks of The Boyne on the day of his Slane show.
