Bell returns to Showplace Saturday with Bowie Live tribute
A concert for the “rule breakers” hits Market Hall next weekend.
Bowie Live returns to the city Saturday. There are only a few seats left though, so be ready to book the next one in April if it’s already sold out.
Fronted by Peterborough’s Michael Bell, the concert pays tribute to the late David Bowie.
Bell is backed by Michael Beauclerc on drums, Jason White on guitar, Sandor Schwisberg on keys, Matt Lagan on sax and percussion and Chuck Daily on bass.
The band kicked off the show at Market Hall last year, nearly to the day of this year’s concert.
But since then, it’s been finetuned.
“The band is a lot tighter,” Bell said.
Some new songs have been added, too, as well as a multimedia element for seated shows like at Market Hall.
As the band plays, a video discography takes audience members through Bowie’s career, from beginning to end.
“There’s sort of an educational aspect to it as well so that people can see the progression of his career, the progression of his personality, all those kinds of things,” Bell said.
The 90-minute show covers a montage of Bowie favourites from the Spiders from Mars to the Scary Monster.
With a career spanning four decades, Bowie’s music has touched many generations from the 1970s to today, Bell said.
“He’s got a huge catalogue,” he said, also mentioning Bowie’s acting days.
While there’s no doubt the concert is geared toward Bowie fans, Bell said anyone who appreciates a good band would like it, too.
“If you’re just a fan of great music – I’d certainly suggest it’s for you on that level,” Bell said.
The Peterborough resident’s favourite song to perform at the moment isn’t one Bowie is famed for, but it was still a famous number.
Bowie wrote All the Young Dudes for Mott the Hoople, who brought it to the charts. But Bowie performed it as well and so will Bell.
“I’ve always enjoyed that song.”
After Bowie died in 2016, Bell was approached for the tribute based on a previous tribute he’d done for the artist early on in his career.
Back then, the Adam Scott Collegiate graduate performed with costume changes and a full face of makeup.
Although this concert doesn’t have Bell decked out, it doesn’t mean the audience can’t.
Bowie Live encourages fans to get their “Bowie on” and dress in their favourite Bowie swag.
Although Bowie’s music isn’t for everyone, Bell said, his fan base is a unique blend of “free thinkers” and “rule breakers.”
“They’re the people who’ve always been attracted to Bowie, I think.”
Tickets to Bowie Live on Saturday and again on April 25 are $28 in advance or $33 at the door. The show starts at 8 p.m. with special guests Broken Harmony.
NOTE: Tickets are available at www.markethall.org, at the Market Hall box office or at Moondance Records.