Supergroup Holy Holy to headline Dublin Bowie Festival 2020

Holy Holy have been announced as the headliners of the Dublin Bowie Festival 2020. The band will play the Olympia Theatre on Saturday, 11 January.

Holy Holy features legendary Bowie producer Tony Visconti on bass and Woody Woodmansey, Bowie’s drummer from 1970-73 and the backbone of his backing band Spiders From Mars, on drums.

Holy Holy also incorporates Heaven 17's Glenn Gregory (vocals); James Stevenson (guitar) of Scott Walker and Cult fame; Paul Cuddeford (guitar), who performed with Ian Hunter and Bob Geldof; Heaven 17’s Berenice Scott (keys) and Jessica Lee Morgan (keys/saxophone). The band specializes in performing Bowie’s early hits.

2020 marks the 50th anniversary of David Bowie’s third album, The Man Who Sold The World, a record that features the instrumental talent of both Visconti and Woodmansey.

The album is often seen as a turning point in Bowie’s career, a transition into a more mature sound. Perhaps the most straight-forward “rock” album in the Bowie repertoire, it left its mark on subsequent artists working in harder rock genres, like gothic, industrial and metal. The title track was famously covered by Kurt Cobain, who listed The Man Who Sold The World as one of his top fifty albums.

Although Bowie penned most of the lyrics and is credited with ownership of the album, it is believed that most of the construction of the album was actually helmed by producer Tony Visconti and guitarist Mick Ronson.

Visconti subsequently left Bowie’s band, leaving Bowie and Scott to produce his next three albums until Visconti's return in 1974 for Diamond Dogs. Visconti also produced some of Bowie's greatest works, including the Low/Heroes/Lodger 'Berlin Trilogy' and Bowie's final masterpiece, 2016's Blackstar. Visconti has also produced Marc Bolan, Thin Lizzy, Morrissey, Manic Street Preachers, Iggy Pop, The Stranglers, Kaiser Chiefs and, most recently, Damon Albarn’s side project, The Good, The Bad & The Queen’s latest classic, Merrie Land.

The festival, now in its fifth year, is a week-long midwinter celebration of all things Bowie. In the past, the event has featured live shows, documentary screenings, Q&As and more in venues across the city.

Tickets for Holy Holy’s performance go on sale from €45.20 next Wednesday 15 May at 9 am.