Call out for Kingston's new Bowie exhibition launching next month

Virgin Radio

16 Feb 2023, 12:59

Organisers are on the hunt to find items from residents to help tell the story of Kingston’s rich music history in an exhibition starting in Kingston next month.

The Community Brain, a Kingston non profit, will launch Bowie and Beyond: Ziggy Stardust & Kingston's Music Heritage to Kingston at Kingston Museum from 31 March to 16 September 2023, in partnership with Creative Youth’s Kingston Heritage Project.

Starting with the pivotal moment when Bowie launched his Ziggy Stardust persona at Tolworth’s Toby Jug in February 1972, the exhibition travels to his return to Kingston Polytechnic (now Kingston University) for a gig in May 1972.

Creative Youth said: “In his Ziggy persona, Bowie perfectly encapsulates the shifting trends of Kingston’s art, music and pop fashion scene at this time.”

The organisers are looking for mix-tapes, photographs, memories and items to help tell the story of Bowie becoming Ziggy Stardust and his connection to Kingston’s music scene.

For a fully immersive experience, the organises are specifically calling on residents to share:

• Any memories, tickets, pictures taken, borrowed pint glasses, coasters, flyers, posters or clothing from Tolworth’s Toby Jug in February 1972 or the Kingston Poly in May 1972 or any other secret stories or local connections to Bowie we may not know about.

• Any memories, stories and interesting connections around the wider music scene in Kingston and the surrounding area from the 1960s to 1990s. This could be magazines, tickets, mix-tapes, albums, shoes, clothing, photos of people attending or outside live music venues.

Kingston was also home to The (Jazz) Cellar Club between 1962-1966, a prime venue which hosted local bands like The Yardbirds and The Nashville Teens in their formative years.

The Animals also played there in the early months of 1964 having moved down from the northeast.

Residents who want to temporarily loan items for the upcoming exhibition can get in touch at ampresearcher@creativeyouthcharity.org until 1 August 2023.