The Hallé Orchestra to headline a free night of Bowie classics in Blackpool

The Hallé Orchestra and acclaimed singer-songwriter and musician Jack Savoretti will headline a packed evening of live music at Blackpool Opera House later this month.

Also on the programme will be the All-Star House Band, featuring members of James and The Stone Roses, special appearances from Blackpool’s very own Little Boots and Rae Morris, and a host of world-class musicians and performers from all across the region.

The People’s Stage live event will be built around the iconic songbook of David Bowie, with each guest artist performing their own interpretation of a Bowie classic, in collaboration with the Hallé Orchestra and All-Star House Band, as well as some of their own top hits.

The one-off show will form part of Blackpool’s campaign to become UK City of Culture 2029 and also celebrate the area’s major cultural achievement of being the only North West venue to host the V&A’s David Bowie: On Tour archive in 2027.

David Bowie: On Tour will run at Blackpool’s Showtown from Wed 30 Jun – Sun 26 Sep 2027 and will feature over 100 highlights from the V&A’s famous Bowie archive – including legendary costumes, musical instruments, career-spanning photography and personal treasures, as well as never-before-seen items – including a Ziggy Stardust-era acoustic guitar and handwritten lyrics.

The People’s Stage event is a free, ticketed event with 2,500 tickets available through a public ballot, which is now open.

If Blackpool’s City of Culture bid is successful, it will receive £10m to host a year-long celebration of arts and culture designed for local people, while boosting the visitor economy, creating new jobs and strengthening the town’s creative identity for years to come.

Saul Davies, guitarist and violinist from the multi-million-selling, Manchester-formed band James, will play with the All-Star House Band on the night and has also curated the event, along with Spencer Phillips, Chair of the Blackpool Heritage and Museum Trust, which operates Showtown, and Joe Duddell, who is the event’s Musical Director.

Saul said: “Blackpool’s always had a special magic about it. There’s an energy that gets under your skin, and it’s a place that’s given James some unforgettable nights over the years. The Empress Ballroom gigs are the stuff of legend – those crowds, that atmosphere, it stays with you. So when the chance came for me to be part of The People’s Stage and help support Blackpool’s UK City of Culture 2029 bid, it was an easy yes. It’s a huge privilege to be involved in this amazing event. Blackpool’s a place that’s always known how to put on a show and it truly deserves the spotlight.”

Cllr Lynn Williams, Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “This is an amazing moment for Blackpool and an opportunity to show the rest of the country the ambition, creativity and community spirit that makes our town so special. The People’s Stage will celebrate the outstanding talent Blackpool has nurtured over the years, alongside artists who have a genuine connection to our town. By making this a free event, we’re ensuring that as many people as possible can come together to enjoy an unforgettable evening and celebrate everything that makes Blackpool unique. I encourage everyone to enter the ballot, celebrate our town, and help us show the nation why Blackpool deserves to be the UK’s City of Culture 2029.

The People’s Stage concert will take place on Sun 26 Jul at Blackpool Opera House. You can enter the ticket ballot here.