MULTIPLE award winner Paul Antony fronts Pop-Up Bowie, a show celebrating one of the most influential artists in the history of popular music.
Paul displays a staggering likeness to David Bowie, both physically and vocally. The concert features some 30 songs spanning a five decade career characterised by chameleon-like change.
In the two hour show, Paul and the band perform Starman, Jean Genie, Moonage Daydream, Ashes to Ashes, Ziggy Stardust, Golden Years, Space Oddity, Life on Mars, Modern Love, Young Americans, Under Pressure, Let’s Dance and many more.
Pop-Up Bowie have appeared at venues all over the UK, including The Plaza, Stockport, The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry, The Bandstand, Eastbourne, The Broadway, Barking, Chapel Arts Centre, Bath, The Mowlem Theatre, Swanage, The Winter Gardens, Margate, Epsom Playhouse, The Riverside Theatre, Newport, The Brew House, Taunton, Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Maidenhead, The Northcourt, Abingdon, The Platform, Morecambe, The Mercury Theatre, Colchester, and The Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch.
They twice headlined the Swanage Carnival and have also played Rock the Castle, which is held every year inside the imposing grounds of the medieval Pembroke Castle in Wales.
DATES
Friday July 19: The Bandstand, Eastbourne
Sunday May 18 2025: Reading
P-UB TALK
Since Joe joined the band for the last show before lockdown in 2020, we’ve been very lucky that there have been only two occasions when we have needed a dep.
Due to an unmovable prior engagement, Joe was not available for our third visit to The Plaza in Stockport on May 18. His seat was filled by Leeds-based drummer Bryn Jenkins.
It’s a tough gig for deps, learning a two hour show, with the only rehearsal being a slightly longer soundcheck than usual to iron out any specific issues. There is no hiding place for the drummer, but Bryn took it all in his stride and put in an amazing performance. No-one would have guessed he was playing with us for the first time, having met the band a few short hours before.
The Plaza is a magnificent, former Art Deco super cinema, which is often used as a film location. As at the Chapel Arts Centre in Bath, a fantastic sound and lighting crew created an exciting atmosphere. By the end, everyone was on their feet.
Next up is a return to The Bandstand in Eastbourne on Friday July 19. Last time we played at the famous outdoor venue, it was the beginning of the season and a strong wind off the sea created a number of challenges.
The sound was being affected and setlists had to be gaffer taped securely to the stage. Having had no issues in the soundcheck, when Joe went to count in the first song, Heroes, nothing was coming through his in-ear monitors. We had to stop and it took us 10 minutes to work out that the wind had blown one of his cymbals over, which landed on the mute button on his mixer. You couldn’t do that if you tried 1,000 times.
MF
THE BAND
Paul Antony: Vocals, acoustic guitar
Richard Bastock: Guitar, vocals
Mark Fishlock: Bass, vocals
Joe Nicklin: Drums