Review: Bowie Experience, Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton

A bold statement to make given the number of tribute acts on the circuit - which can only have increased since the sad loss of the music icon earlier this year.

This certainly is a celebration of the many classic hits, the unique sounds and style of Bowie which he ch-ch-ch changed and regenerated through the decades. All the Young (and not so young) Dudes turned out to enjoy the music of their hero.

There was an interesting mix of generations in the audience for the show.

Last night was a celebration, a tribute to the great man – but is it too much to expect anyone to recreate the talent, sound and pure genius of Bowie himself?

In the Bowie Experience, Laurence Knight offers a dress-alike version if not a lookalike version of the singer. When it came to the music it was more of a sound-alikeish.

The show follows a fairly chronological order with the first half providing a relentless string of favourite hits while Knight tears through almost as many costume changes. Mind you, it is a brave man that will model Lycra catsuits and skimpy hot pants – not forgetting dancing in killer platforms.

Set against a backdrop of changing cosmic, psychedelic and striking images shown on a huge screen, the night began with Space Oddity and continued through such favourites as Life on Mars, Ziggy Stardust, Suffragette City, Jean Genie, Sorrow and going into the interval on Rebel Rebel.

I never had the good fortune to see Bowie, but I don't imagine that he was quite as detached as seemingly portrayed by Knight on stage. Some interaction would have been nice.

However, that changed in the second half and Knight was richly rewarded when he reached out to the crowd with mass audience participation, clapping and dancing. By the time he reached the Let's Dance era the whole room was pretty much on its feet.

Favourites in the second half included Fashion, Ashes to Ashes, China Girl, Modern Love, the beautiful Absolute Beginners and Heroes. These tracks were my favourite – I am still an eighties girl – and certainly went down well with the audience who had thoroughly warmed up by now

A highlight was Under Pressure when Knight was joined by vocalist Charlotte Elizabeth Talbot whose powerful tones almost lifted the roof. In comparison, it felt at times during the show that Knight was shouting and his mic would have benefitted from being turned down a few notches.

The night ended on All the Young Dudes with the singing continuing long after the band had left the stage and as a delighted audience made their way home.

Bowie might have missed out on a posthumous win in the Mercury Prize last night, but those at Wolverhampton Grand were still celebrating the work of one of the greatest musicians we have ever known. A great experience!

By Diane Davies