A major free concert will be held in Blackpool this weekend featuring KT Tunstall and others in a celebratory tribute to David Bowie. The People’s Stage will take place at Blackpool Opera House on Sunday, July 26, marking the town’s bid for UK City of Culture 2029 and celebrating Showtown museum hosting a Bowie exhibition.
Line-up and performances
The event includes KT Tunstall, who performed at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, along with Jack Savoretti and Tom Burke. Manchester’s Hallé Orchestra, Little Boots, Rae Morris, and Poet Laureate Simon Armitage will also appear. A special All-Star House Band features musicians who have played with James, The Stone Roses, and Courteeners.
Hosted by journalist John Robb, the concert includes spoken artist Nathan Parker, Northern Soul singer Darrell Smith, and Blackpool’s Electric Pink Voices LGBTQ+ choir. Each artist will perform their own interpretation of a David Bowie classic alongside the Hallé Orchestra and the All-Star House Band, as well as some of their own songs.
Bowie exhibition and City of Culture bid
The concert coincides with Blackpool’s £13m Showtown museum hosting the V&A’s David Bowie: On Tour exhibition from June 30 to September 26, 2027, featuring around 100 items including costumes, instruments, Polaroids, and scripts. The event is presented by Blackpool Council, with 2,500 free tickets available through a public ballot ending on July 24.
The People’s Stage has been curated by Saul Davies of James, alongside Spencer Phillips, Chair of Blackpool Heritage and Museum Trust, and Musical Director Joe Duddell. Phillips said: "The People's Stage is about bringing together an extraordinary mix of artists to celebrate David Bowie's incredible legacy while showcasing the ambition behind Blackpool's UK City of Culture bid. We're absolutely thrilled that KT Tunstall and Tom Burke are joining what is already an exceptional line-up. They are both hugely talented performers with a real appreciation for Bowie's music, and together with the Hallé Orchestra, Jack Savoretti and our incredible All-Star House Band, they're going to help create a truly unforgettable night. This is a concert for everyone – a celebration of music, creativity and everything that makes Blackpool such a special place."
The People’s Stage will be held at Blackpool Opera House on Sunday, July 26, from 7pm.
