If a concert honouring the music and life of David Bowie, and delighting in his wonderful eccentricities, sounds just the medicine for a mid-winter’s entertainment, then get yourself a ticket to Arts of Tour’s David Bowie & the Art of Being Different, on Thursday, 8th July at the Tarras Hall.
This sparkling interactive performance and talk, by Bowie expert Dr Ian Chapman and his Cosmic Jive Trio has been personally inspired by David Bowie, one of the most complex and enduring performers in the history of popular music. Musician, academic and author Dr Ian Chapman, of Dunedin, is an expert on Bowie.
Cosmic Jive Music brings to the stage superb acoustic arrangements of Bowie’s songs, arranged especially for the show.
Their stripped back and largely acoustic instrumentation allow Bowie’s masterful songwriting to take centre stage.
The show celebrates eccentric creativity and is testament to how the arts can empower, improve mental health and heal past traumas. Above all, it is a triumphant affirmation of the power and potential of difference.
Dr Ian Power (vocals/percussion) is convenor of the Contemporary Music degree course at Otago University. He is a specialist in the life and work of David Bowie. In the 1980s he was a professional drummer working with artists such as Rob Guest and Billy T James. More recently he was the glittering glam rock performer Dr Glam.
Pania Simmonds (bass/vocals) studied music at Otago University where she specialised in bass guitar. She has also toured and performed with Ian Chapman’s glam show alter ego, Dr Glam. She has studied double bass, and taught music at Otago Polytechnic, and now teaches bass at Otago University. She plays in a jazz band, a string ensemble and musical theatre, and is currently studying classical bass with Dunedin Symphony Principal bassist, Pat Dean.
Doug Wright (keys/vocals) has been a resident fixture on the Dunedin music scene for over 30 years, as a freelance musician, composer and currently as a performance tutor in contemporary music at Otago University. He was a founder member of iconic Dunedin bands Rue de Remarque and Oxo Cubans. He manages to also write and arrange music for television, radio and live productions.
Book tickets: www.artscentral.co.nz