They don't call Seattle the "City of Music" for nothing, and the outpouring of David Bowie tribute shows this weekend is a great example why. From yoga to film screenings and more, there's plenty of ways to celebrate his life with fellow music lovers. Check out a few of these events below:
Bowie's Birthday Bash with Bowie Vision and Jealous DogsSaturday, January 7th at the Tractor Tavern (more info)
BowieVision is Seattle's own Bowie cover band, comprised of members of both the Dudley Manlove Quartet and Purr Gato. The "vision" part comes from videos projected behind them as they play. You might remember Night of a Thousand Bowies, their attempt last year to set a Guinness Book World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as David Bowie. (Sadly, they fell 75 people short.) Come to the show dressed as Bowie to make up for it.
Ground Control: A David Bowie Tribute Yoga SessionSunday, January 8th at Fred Wildlife Refuge (more info)
What better way to honor Bowie than by raising your consciousness to a soundtrack of his work spun by DJ Recess and VJ Killing Frenzy. (Not surprisingly, Bowie was active in both yoga and meditation.) Local collective Yo Yo Yoga will lead attendees through a vinyasa/yoga flow. Costumes are encouraged, and you must bring your own mat, but free juice, kombucha, and snacks will be on hand. Star Anna & Synergia NW Orchestra perform Ziggy StardustSunday, January 8th at the Neptune Theatre (more info)
The concept for this event actually came months before Bowie's death, as Seattle's Star Anna was driving over the Snoqualmie Pass. A huge Bowie Fan, Star felt an immediate connection to him while watching the movie Labyrinth, and as a six-year-old, she even attempted cutting her own hair to look like him. (She reports, her mother tried to fix it, but she ended up with a bald spot and a rat tail.)
To cope with the death of one of her greatest idols, Star looked to the suicide of Bowie's "Starman" alter-ego to come to terms with his passing, cementing her idea to perform the 1972 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in its entirety. She'll be joined by the 50-piece Synergia Northwest Orchestra, a collective of classical, contemporary, professional, and student musicians, led by world-class conductor Michael McMorrow.
Labyrinth Quote-Along and David Bowie Birthday PartySunday, January 8th at SIFF Cinema Uptown (more info)
Speaking of Labyrinth, SIFF will be screening the 1986 musical fantasy film, inviting audience members to shout-out favorite lines ("You have no power over me!") and lyrics ("You remind me of the babe"). The movie -- directed by Jim Henson and executive-produced by George Lucas -- received mixed reviews upon its original release but has since become a cult favorite. Bowie plays the role of Jareth the Goblin King, with Henson explaining in a 1987 interview, "I wanted to put two characters of flesh and bone in the middle of all these artificial creatures, and David Bowie embodies a certain maturity, with his sexuality, his disturbing aspect, all sorts of things that characterize the adult world."
Before the screening, there will be a pre-film music video sing-along, as well as Whoopee Cushions for visiting the Bog of Eternal Stench, and a sock-puppet creation station for creating your own goblin.
David Bowie Birthday BashSunday, January 8th at Barboza (more info)
Local bands The West, Tinfoil and Tape, Black Giraffe, and Grey Waves will each perform Bowie tribute sets, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit MusiCares.
The Man Who Fell To Earth screening with a live DJSunday, January 8th at Naked City Brewery & Taphouse (more info)
Labyrinth feel too kiddie-friendly for you? Up in Greenwood, you can watch a screening of Bowie’s 1976 cinematic debut, The Man Who Fell to Earth. Bowie plays an extraterrestrial named “Thomas Jerome Newton” who comes to Earth to collect water for his home planet. Does he ever make it home? Find out Sunday night, as a synchronized DJ set of all-Bowie tracks is mixed live as the movie plays.
The Music of David Bowie with the Seattle SymphonyTuesday, January 10that Benaroya Hall (more info)
On the one-year anniversary of Bowie's passing, the Seattle Symphony will present a unique tribute night, led by Guest Conductor Brent Havens with a full rock band and vocalist Tony Vincent. It should be wonderful to hear the eclectic catalog of Bowie reinterpreted by the symphony, whose orchestra has made nearly 150 recordings, received two Grammy Awards, 21 Grammy nominations, two Emmy Awards, and numerous other accolades.
KEXP celebrates the life of David Bowie on-air beginning Sunday, January 8th, on what would have been David Bowie’s 70th birthday, and culminating Tuesday, January 10th on the one-year anniversary of his passing. Listen all weekend for rare songs and interviews with those who knew him best. Click here for more information.
The lineup for the 2017 Sasquatch! Music Festival was just announced, so you can start making plans for another great Memorial Day weekend! Head out to The Gorge Amphitheater, on Friday, May 26th through Sunday, May 28th, to see performances from this stellar lineup:
It was a year ago today that KEXP celebrated our annual Intergalactic Bowie Day celebration on what was David Bowie's 69th birthday, sadly followed by an on-air mourning of his passing mere days later. While the passing of time has done nothing to dull the pain, the power and influence of his music…
Check out some of the KEXP DJ’s favorite artists from the Pacific Northwest and around the world on-the-go. KEXP’s Music That Matters weekly podcast brings you an exclusive mix of new music from the world’s best independent artists.
