3 min to read
The David Bowie Experience A Decade On, Still Starman
A celebratory night honouring Bowie’s music, ten years after his passing
🎤 The David Bowie Experience
Opera House Manchester 10th January 2025
There’s something quietly powerful about the date alone. 10th January 2025 marked ten years since David Bowie’s passing, and stepping into the Opera House Manchester that night felt less like attending a gig and more like joining a collective moment of remembrance.
This wasn’t about mourning though. It was very clearly a celebration.
⭐ A Setlist Packed with Icons
From the first note, The David Bowie Experience made its intentions clear. This was wall-to-wall Bowie. No narration. No storytelling. No attempts to contextualise or explain. Just song after song after song.
For the most part, it worked.
I knew the vast majority of the tracks played the big hitters, the era-defining songs, the ones woven into the cultural fabric. There were maybe a handful of early-era deep cuts that passed me by, but even those felt respectfully handled rather than indulgent.
This was a band clearly in love with the catalogue, delivering it faithfully and confidently, without overcomplication. In their words not trying to copy Bowie but celebrate the music. Obviously, there was an element of immitation with the outfits and other things, thats unavoidable.
🎭 Theatre vs Intimacy
If there’s one criticism, it’s less about the performance and more about the setting.
While the Opera House is a fantastic venue, there were moments where the show felt like it might have been better served in a smaller, more intimate space. Bowie’s music thrives on atmosphere and connection, and at times this felt closer to a polished theatre production than a raw, shared musical experience.
That’s not necessarily a flaw just a matter of taste. Personally, I think this kind of tribute would absolutely shine in smaller venues, where the crowd and band can feed off each other more directly.
🎶 No Frills, No Gimmicks Just the Music
What you do get is honesty. There’s no attempt to reinvent Bowie or over dramatise his legacy. The show understands that the music is the star and lets it breathe.
On a night marking ten years since his death, that restraint felt appropriate. It wasn’t about impersonation or spectacle. It was about reminding everyone in the room just how vast, varied and timeless his body of work really is.
You could feel it in the crowd people nodding along, quietly singing, occasionally punching the air when a favourite landed. Then everyone standing (who could) at the end at the request of the band.
🌌 Final Thoughts
The David Bowie Experience delivered exactly what it promised: a respectful, energetic celebration of Bowie’s music on a meaningful anniversary.
While I’d love to see this kind of show in a more intimate setting, it was still another enjoyable evening at the theatre, and a fitting way to acknowledge an artist who meant so much to so many.
Bowie may be gone, but nights like this remind you that his music is very much alive.
Rating: 7/10
A solid, heartfelt tribute best enjoyed as a musical celebration rather than a theatrical journey.
📸 Photo Gallery
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