Candy Volcano kicks off Philly Loves Bowie week at Free At Noon

Philly Loves Bowie Week is upon us. Every year since the rock icon and innovator passed away in 2016, the city’s fans have rallied around his music and memory for his birthday week in January. The cult of Bowie has always been particularly strong in Philadelphia, from the Sigma Kids who swarmed around his Young Americans recording sessions — which, inspired by T.S.OP., took place in Philly — to the David Live album recorded at The Tower Theater, and this week it’s out in force, from Bowie burlesque to Bowieoke and tribute concerts galore.

Things got under way, as they do every year, with a Free At Noon concert at World Cafe Live starring Candy Volcano. The troupe is large in numbers — at one point I counted 18 instrumentalists and vocalists onstage — and their sound is accordingly massive, a delight for the sold-out crowd to dance and sing along to. The setlist drew on big hits from the Bowie canon, opening with “Rebel Rebel” and closing with “Young Americans,” and worked in some deeper selections like “Hallo Spaceboy” from 1995’s Outside and “Lazarus” from his swan song, Blackstar.

Candy Volcano continues the party at Ardmore Music Hall on Saturday night, January 6th; tickets are still available, more information can be found at WXPN’s Concerts and Events page. Below, check out photos and the setlist from today’s Free at Noon, and listen back to the performance in the player above.

Candy Volcano | photo by John Vettese for WXPN

Candy Volcano | photo by John Vettese for WXPN

Candy Volcano | photo by John Vettese for WXPN