Intimate orchestral reinterpretation of the David Bowie catalogue by Manchester Camerata, part of the 'Bowie in the City' series.
Manchester Camerata are playing David Bowie at The Social, Aviva Studios on Friday 18 December. It's a chamber lineup of ten musicians, with a special guest soloist joining them on stage. The set is an orchestral reinterpretation of Bowie's catalogue, and the ensemble describes it as moving away from grand symphonic nostalgia to look at the nuance, texture and raw songwriting craft of rock's ultimate innovator. They'll be deconstructing iconic melodies and deep cuts live and up close, rather than playing them as straightforward covers.
Manchester Camerata are known for their track record of cross-genre exploration, and this fits right in with that. The concert is part of Bowie in the City, a series of free music, dance and fashion showcases celebrating Bowie ahead of what would have been his 80th birthday. It runs alongside the immersive exhibition David Bowie: You're Not Alone at Aviva Studios, which opens on 8 December 2026 and runs until 10 January 2027.
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Tickets are free, though you'll need to book in advance. All access tickets must be bought directly from Factory International. The performance starts at 7.15pm and runs for three hours, and the age guidance is 14+. The Social is at Aviva Studios on Water Street, Manchester M3 4JQ.
