Robert Burke Warren and Friends Celebrate David Bowie in Woodstock

Too often, the great David Bowie’s stature as a writer of enduring songs is overshadowed by his many chameleonic image ch-ch-ch-changes and artistic shifts. Although over the arc of his long career he did experiment with music that was more sound-based than song-based, the late Woodstock resident would no doubt agree that without great songs underneath everything, all the flash and glitter he sported would’ve been just that: nothing more than flash and glitter. “Acoustic Stardust,” an intimate birthday tribute to the Thin White Duke hosted by local musical fave Robert Burke Warren at Colony on January 12, takes this angle to heart by peeling back the bombast from Bowie’s songs and placing them in a minimal, unamplified setting.

“Especially in his latter days, Bowie occasionally performed acoustic sets, with sparse accompaniment,” Warren observes. “I love watching those clips on YouTube. The songs gain a new kind of power when they’re stripped down to their essence, just voice and one or two instruments. Unplugged, the storytelling, imagery, and melodies really shine, and performer and audience enjoy a cozy rapport. I intend to bring a version of that experience to the Colony.” Warren’s collaborators for the night include Dennis Yerry, Mark Lerner (Life in a Blender), Nancy Howell (Rosine), Ann Osmond, Cally Mansfield, and other special guests.

“Acoustic Stardust: An Intimate Tribute to David Bowie” will take place at Colony in Woodstock, New York, on January 12 at 8pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For more information, call (845) 679-7625 or visit http://www.colonywoodstock.com/.

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