About David Bowie in Time
In person day tickets are now sold out, but tickets are available to to watch the day online, live or for 14 days on catch up.
with Blixa Bargeld, Donny McCaslin, Francis Whately, Gudrun Gut, Harriet Reed, Jehnny Beth, Jonathan Barnbrook, Dr Leah Kardos, Mark Reeder, Nemone, Nicholas Pegg, Nikko Weidemann, Paul Morley, Samira Ahmed, and Sabrina Offord
and very special guest, Tony Visconti.
To mark a decade since the death of David Bowie, a landmark gathering of musicians, writers, filmmakers, artists and critics reflects on pivotal moments across his kaleidoscopic career and his own fascination with time.
Co curated by Arsalan Mohammad, creator of the Albumtoalbum podcast, this day of conversations, presentations and performances enables us to experience the artist anew and reflect on not only how time changed Bowie, but how he changed our perceptions of it, through his art, music, identity and fame, always reminding us of the fleeting beauty of being alive.
Full programme details below.
Tickets are available to attend the evening performances of David Bowie in Time: Just A Cabaret, with songs performed by Blixa Bargeld and Nikko Weidemann and Jehnny Beth. Information and bookings here.
Please note that the screening of Five Years, and the closing performance are not included in the online version of this event. The livestream will run from 12:15 to approximately 19:30 on the day, with all sessions subsequently available for seven days on catch up.
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Event programme
Full programme details
Doors open 10.00
10.30 – 12.00 Film screening
David Bowie: Five Years (dir. Francis Whately)
12.15 – 13.30 David Bowie: In Time
David Bowie’s shifting personas and panoramic vision constantly challenged temporality, looping time forward and back, ever aware of impermanence but never ceasing to create. Acclaimed documentary maker Francis Whately joins writer and pop culture commentator Paul Morley, author of Far Above the World: The Time and Space of David Bowie, in conversation with BBC broadcaster Samira Ahmed.
14.00 – 14.45 The David Bowie Archive
An insight into the remarkable and extensive archive of David Bowie, recently made available to the public in the David Bowie Centre at V&A East Storehouse. This vast repository of papers, clothes, music, films, ideas, drafts, scribbles, shoes, sketches and multimedia presents the art, life and mind of Bowie in unimaginable detail. With Project Curator David Bowie Archive, Harriet Reed and Theatre and Performance Archivist, Sabrina Offord.
15.15 – 16.15 Zeitlos!: Bowie in Berlin
Legendary Berlin post-punk musicians Blixa Bargeld and Gudrun Gut, Berlin-based musician, producer and DJ Mark Reeder and Arsalan Mohammed explore Bowie’s extraordinary creative renewal in late 1970s divided West Berlin, the influence of its culture and history had on him, and the mark he left. Just as Berlin’s fractured cityscape of the late 1970s existed between eras and worlds, Bowie’s time in Germany captured an artist amid both disintegration and discovery.
16.45 – 18.00 Bowie and Blackstar
January also marks ten years since David Bowie’s magisterial final artistic statement, Blackstar. In a session introduced by Jehnny Beth we are joined by its musical director, bandleader and saxophonist Donny McCaslin and Director of the Visconti Studios at Kingston University, the musician, producer and author of Blackstar Theory, Dr Leah Kardos, as well as long-time Bowie collaborator, Blackstar album designer, Jonathan Barnbrook. They talk to the BBC’s Nemone about this thrilling last record.
18.30 – 19.30 Tony Visconti in conversation with Nicholas Pegg
Bowieverse royalty comes next, in the form of legendary producer Tony Visconti. In a one-on-one conversation with The Complete David Bowie author, Nicholas Pegg Visconti will bring his unique perspectives and memories of his old friend and creative partner, the amanuensis at Bowie’s side, as he navigated the numerous twists and turns of his creative journey, from The Man Who Sold the World, to Blackstar.
19.30 – 21.30 Just a Cabaret
An evening of music in the grand Entrance Hall of the British Library to round off a day of talks and reflections on David Bowie, ten years on from his death. In cabaret style we present a unique live appearance by the grand duke of the Berlin post punk scene, Blixa Bargeld. The Einstürzende Neubauten and Bad Seeds co-founder gives the UK premiere of songs from his recent Blixa Sings David Bowie EP, together with his collaborator, the Berlin-based pianist, composer and bandleader Nikko Weidemann, and additonal piano by Daniel Brandt.
They are joined on the bill by Jehnny Beth, frontwoman of Savages and with an exceptional solo career since, performing a personal selection of Bowie songs.
Plus DJs on the night the Berliners Gudrun Gut and Mark Reeder, and a bar. Please note, this is a standing event.
Separate tickets to attend Just a Cabaret in person are available to book, but it does not form part of the event livestream.
More information
Venue opening times
This event will take place in the British Library Knowledge Centre and is also available to watch online. Tickets may be booked to attend in person, or to watch online.
If you are attending in person, please note that the Knowledge Centre will be open from 10.00.
Please arrive no later than 15 minutes before the start time of this event. If you have specific access requirements please email customer@bl.uk
Attending the event online
If you book an online ticket, you will receive the viewing link on the morning of the event. You can either watch the event live or during the next 7 days on catch up.
Please note that the screening of Five Years, and the closing performance are not include in the online version of this event. The livestream will run from 12:15 to approximately 19:30 on the day, with all sessions subsequently available for seven days on catch up.
Concessions
There are a range of concessions available. These include discounts for British Library Members, Young Persons (16–25s), and visitors on Universal/Pension Credit and free entry for carers.
