It's been 50 years since David Bowie released Aladdin Sane, along with its iconic lighting bolt cover art, and the Southbank Centre will host a slew of events to celebrate it.
The David Bowie fest will be centred around Aladdin Sane: 50 Years, an exhibition that looks at the creation of the 1973's famous artwork, including the lightning flash portrait by Brian Duffy.
READ MORE: V&A To House Extensive David Bowie's Archive In New East London Centre
Aladdin Sane: 50 Years runs for two months, from April 6 to May 28, and is curated by Duffy's son, Chris Duffy and V&A museum curator Geoffrey Marsh.
The exhibition will map Bowie's constantly evolving image as he reshaped and redefined his image while creating a snapshot of the music scene in the early 1970s.
A free archival display will run alongside the exhibition, which looks at Bowie's connection to the Southbank Centre, and his ongoing legacy. This will include never-seen-before archival material.
Coinciding with Aladdin Sane's release (April 20, 1973), Royal Festival Hall will put on a concert to end all tribute bands on Friday, April 21.
Hosted by the Nu Civilisation Orchestra, the likes of Anna Calvi, Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears and R&B singer Tawiah will perform the album in full, playing such hits like The Jean Genie, Drive in Saturday and Lady Grinning Soul.
DJ collective Queer House Party will also pay respects to the artists on April 21, with a night of clubby fun.
Following this, Afro-Caribbean inspired Queer Bruk will blend dancehall, afrobeats and soca for an accessible all-out party with a Bowie flair on Saturday, April 22.
Across this weekend the centre will put on a series of talks and poetry.
This includes Aladdin Sound, feature 10 British poets who have been commissioned to write a new poem in response to a track. this in turn creates a spoken word version of the album that will be presented in full live on stage.
Poets include Forward Prize-winner Luke Kennard, Keith Jarrett, Golnoosh Nour and Mark Waldron. This is happening on Friday, April 21.
On April 22, author and co-curator of V&A exhibition David Bowie Is, Geoffrey Marsh, along with his co-curator and director of the London Design Biennale Victoria Broackes will explore the rise of immersive music exhibitions.
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Broakes will also chair a conversation with Chris Duffy discussing the Aladdin Sane: 50 Years exhibition and the enduring relevance of the album.
Tickets for the exhibition and events go on sale Wednesday, March 1 at 10am at southbankcentre.co.uk
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