Free Bowie concert celebrates resort's culture bid

KT Tunstall and Jack Savoretti are headlining a free concert in Blackpool showcasing the music of David Bowie.

The People's Stage concert on 26 July forms part of the resort's campaign to become UK City of Culture 2029 and celebrates Showtown museum's forthcoming hosting of the V&A's David Bowie: On Tour exhibition next year.

Guest artists at the Opera House will perform alongside the Hallé Orchestra and an All-Star House Band - which features members of northern bands including James, The Stone Roses and The Courteeners.

Spencer Phillips, chair of Showtown and co-curator of The People's Stage, said: "It will be a night that Blackpool will remember for a very long time to come."

"We've really drawn on the immense talent that is in Blackpool, or comes from Blackpool across vocals and across spoken word and music," he said.

The evening will also feature performances from actor Tom Burke, Blackpool's own Little Boots and Rae Morris, Northern Soul vocalist Darrell Smith, the Electric Pink Voices LGBTQ+ Choir, spoken word performances, and a specially commissioned Blackpool lyric by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage.

Phillips said: "The City of Culture bid is well underway and looking amazing".

He added that it would mean "absolutely everything" to win, saying it would be a "celebration" of the people and "the creative industries from the Illuminations through to the amazing stage shows, pier shows and the circus and everything else that Blackpool has brought to the world".

Phillips added: "For the millions of people who come here on holiday every year, everyone has a magical memory of Blackpool.

"We really are on the world stage with our entertainment industry."

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