Friday Late

The original contemporary late night event

Live performances, cutting-edge fashion, debates, one-off displays and installations, special guests, bar and food, guest DJs, late-night exhibition opening.

Held on the last Friday in every month (except December) from 18.30 – 22.00. All Friday Late activities are free.

Forthcoming Friday Lates

Friday 31 May: White Nights

David Bowie is Making a Scene

Friday 26 April
18.30–22.00

‘Hey babe, let's go out tonight...’ Come and celebrate the rock god and cultural icon that is David Bowie. Drawing on the hotly awaited exhibition David Bowie is, find out what inspires him and witness his influence on contemporary music, fashion, film and performance.

Friday Late is the start of the Bowie Weekender, two days of free themed events, talks and film screenings. Some events will continue over the weekend.

All events are free and places designated on a first come, first served basis, unless stated otherwise. Filming and photography will be taking place at this event.

David Bowie is laying down some rock ‘n’ roll

The Techtonics
18.30 – 18.45
Founded in 2008, all-male a cappella group and musical sensation The Techtonics from Imperial College, London, bring you a Bowie themed set with a special twist.

DJ set with Charlotte Hatherley
18.45 – 22.00
Charlotte Hatherley will be playing an eclectic mix of music that inspired Bowie, from The Velvet Underground to The Pixies – as well as a great deal of music from the man himself. Performer, singer songwriter, musician and composer; Charlotte began her career as a member of Ash and has since released three critically acclaimed solo albums.

Ziggy Played Piano
18.30 – 21.30
Relax in the Museum Café whilst listening to live piano arrangements of Bowie’s music, spanning his career from Space Oddity (1969) to Where Are We Now? (2013). Go back in time with each landmark song as performed by actor and musician Dominic Gerrard.

The Career-Sonification of David Bowie
18.30 – 21.30
Plymouth University composer/research fellow Alexis Kirke, together with sound-artist/electronic music pioneer Martyn Ware have discovered compelling patterns in numerical data from Bowie’s career. Using sonification (the audio display of non-sound-data), listen to a musical interpretation of Bowie created through hyper-speed piano compositions and new sounds.

David Bowie is waiting for the gift of sound and vision

Heroes
18.30 – 22.00
Urban artist Pistol is fascinated by Bowie’s image, music and the aura that surrounds him. Discover his personal interpretation of Bowie through three specially commissioned canvases.

Feel the Fame
18.30 – 21.30
Halfcut kick start your evening. Walk down the red carpet and feel the fame! A performance installation leading to an evening of entertainment. 

For the love of the record cover
19.00 (duration 60 minutes)
Music Journalist Paul Morley will chair a discussion between some of the world’s most influential designers and art directors working in the field of record cover design. Join Jonathan Barnbrook, who designed the cover artwork for Bowie’s latest album ‘The Next Day’ and worked on the exhibition identity and book for the David Bowie is exhibition, Vaughan Oliver, designer of 4AD’s covers such as the Pixies and Dead Can Dance, Phil Lee creative director at XL records who worked on the innovative ‘X’ campaign for The XX, and Julian House, designer at Ghostbox Records, a record company that is at the forefront of the hauntological movement in Britain.

Paul Trynka and Bob Solly
20.30 (duration 60 minutes)
Between 1963 and 1966, David Bowie gained a name, and developed an unrivalled array of skills. Paul Trynka, author of acclaimed Bowie biography Starman talks through the early creative metamorphoses of Davy Jones, closing with an in conversation with Bob Solly, keyboard player in one of Bowie’s key early bands, The Manish Boys.

Pop-up gallery talks
20.30 (duration 30 minutes)
Hear from David Bowie Is Exhibition Curator Geoff Marsh about Bowie’s inspirations and influences on contemporary rock and pop culture.

BUG: David Bowie Special
19.15 & 20.30 (duration 45 minutes)
Feast your eyes and ears on the BFI Southbank’s ever popular music video series, BUG, bringing a bite size show celebrating David Bowie’s music video and film output to Friday Late. BUG’s regular host, comedian, music video expert and Bowie fanatic Adam Buxton, will present visual work from Bowie’s career and will take an irreverent look at the online reactions to his videos.

Tickets are available from the Sackler Centre Reception desk and will be released 45 minutes prior to each show. Tickets are available on a first come first served basis.

Station to Stationary
18.30 – 21.45
Create a giant post-it note portrait of Bowie with Central Saint Martins MA student Sarah Fortais, known for her interactive sculpture projects and strong Bowie influence. Fill the wall by posting up your thoughts and memories.

David Bowie is dancing out in space

DJ set - DJ Bert Vertigo
18.30 – 21.30
DJ Bert Vertigo will play some Bowie-inspired beats with a touch of outer space. As the guitarist from Glasgow based band Trembling Bells, Mike is also one half of musical duo Mike and Solveig, as well as a DJ and collector of rare, strange and wonderful records.

The One-Way Ticket
18.30 – 21.30
Discover designer Joseph Popper’s installation and film based project, which will send you on a voyage into deep space from where you will not return. With the installation having been constructed using low-end and found materials, bridge the gap between the imaginary and the pragmatic, what it means to be in space and what it means to get there.

Space Oddity
18.50 – 21.30
Watch contemporary dancers Sophie Arstall, Iris Chan, Thomas Goodwin and Lucy Teed as they interact with their surroundings, inspired by astronauts and the extra terrestrial.

Ground Control: An Opera in Space by the International Space Orchestra
21.00 – 21.30
The outer regions of space have long been a source of inspiration and fascination for writers, filmmakers and artists, as they were for Bowie. Shot in front of the world’s largest wind tunnel at the NASA Ames Research Center, watch The International Space Orchestra by experience designer Nelly Ben Hayoun, as they re-enact the unique drama of the control rooms of Apollo 11.

Penguin Cafe
20.00 - 21.00
Nelly Ben Hayoun’s Ground Control: An Opera in Space was composed by a team including Damon Albarn, Bobby Womack, Maywa Denki, and Arthur Jeffes from Penguin Cafe, including a libretto by science fiction author Bruce Sterling. Experience an exclusive live performance by Penguin Cafe, including songs as sung by the International Space Orchestra and Bowie inspired instrumentals.

David Bowie is under Japanese influence

Zen Zone
18.50 – 21.30 (25 minute performances)
David Bowie once said that although he loved Japan, he could never live there as it would make him ‘too zen to write’. Inspired by Bowie’s interest in Buddhism, dancers Iris Chan, Thomas Goodwin and Lucy Teed will animate this space with music, Tibetan chanting, meditation, and Tai Chi – becoming live sculptures amongst the objects on display.

Pop-up gallery talks
19.00 (30 minutes)
V&A Senior Curator Greg Irvine discusses the influence of Japan, both on Bowie’s music and approach to his theatricality, as well as introducing the first Kabuki performance.

Okuni
Japan, Room 45
19.20, 20.00 & 21.00 (duration 20 minutes)
A dance based theatre performance founded in 16th century Japan. Kabuki is known for the elaborate make-up worn by its performers and the stylized drama that unfolds. Watch a beautiful example of this age old tradition as performed by London-based director and choreographer Akiko Ono together with Zac Niizato and Tomoko Komura.

David Bowie is busting up his brains for the words

Bowie’s bookshelf
18.30 – 21.30
Browse books and magazines from Bowie’s own reading list in the Museum’s inspiring National Art Library and get inspired to write your own cut-up lyrics.

Cut-up collage workshop
18.30 – 21.30
Create individual cut-up collages using found texts from newspapers and novels.

Pop-up gallery talks
19.30 (duration 30 minutes)
Join Kathryn Johnson, V&A assistant curator of David Bowie is to discuss Bowie’s 100 favourite books and their influence on his music and performances.

David Bowie is living in a silent film

Preposterous
18.30 – 21.30
Responding to Bowie’s performance in the 1969 mime film The Mask, actor and mime artist John Hinton will be popping up intermittently to subvert the existence or otherwise of objects and ideas. You will not hear John talk. The Mask is his muse, but not his mantle.

An Occasional Dream
18.30 – 21.30
Immerse yourself in the Weimar with G.W. Pabst’s The Joyless Street (1926) starring Greta Garbo, or one of the most influential of German Expressionist films The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920). Alternatively, watch the birth of dandyism and extraordinary men’s fashions with the original thin white duke in ‘Beau Brummel’ (1924).

Chameleon, Comedian, Corinthian and Caricature
18.30 – 21.30
Visit the London of Bowie’s youth, witness wonders in the study of outerspace, and explore avant-garde fashion with a selection of footage from the British Pathe archives. This is accompanied by works from contemporary artists focusing on androgyny and visual identity, featuring work by Scottee and Ranulph Redlin.

David Bowie is Fashion! Turn to the left

Oh! You Pretty Things
18.30 – 21.30
Androgynous, glam-rock, and instantly recognisable. Cult British brand Illamasqua will offer 10 min Bowie inspired make up transformations. Choose from a variety of looks on the night-add a flash of colour to your weekend.
Appointments available on first come, first served basis

Pop-up gallery talks
19.00 (duration 20 minutes)
Over his career, David Bowie has collaborated with some of the world’s most high profile fashion designers, but many of his most noted suits and outfits were designed by a little known London designer and tailor, Freddie Buretti. Find out more with V&A Fashion Curator Oriole Cullen.

Absolute Dead ringers
18.30 – 21.45
Drawing inspiration from Bowie’s most iconic costumes and personas, costume and prop artist Bryony Rumble presents a selection of life size Bowie cut-outs, for all your photographic requirements. Bring your best Bowie face.

Fashion Styles for the Famous
18.30 – 21.30
Inspired by Bowie’s influence on the fashion world? Join members of CreateVoice, the V&A’s youth collective, and fashion designer Jane Bowler to create the ultimate music icon look. Bowler’s designs are regularly borrowed by the likes of Rita Ora, Azealia Banks and Jessie J.

David Bowie is a puzzled man
Test your Bowie knowledge! Enter this David Bowie quiz to be in with a chance of winning a special Bowie Prize. Post your completed quiz sheet in the orange post box in the Sackler Centre Reception.

 

Please note that tickets for the David Bowie is exhibition are very limited
Tickets are available to purchase at the Museum in advance or on the day of your visit. You are advised to arrive at the V&A for when the Museum opens at 10.00 for the best chance of purchasing a ticket. Please note tickets bought on the day may not be for immediate entry to the exhibition, but for later on that day.

David Bowie is
In Partnership with Gucci
Sound Experience by Sennheiser 

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View images from some of our previous Friday Late events on our Flickr photostream

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MasterCard is delighted to be partnering with Friday Late at the V&A, where each month we will be hosting the MasterCard Cocktail Bar exclusively for cardholders. There will be discounted drinks and other fantastic offers to redeem on the night when you use your MasterCard. If you haven’t already, you can sign up on www.pricelesslondon.co.uk and take advantage of all the latest London offers and special events. Come see us in gallery 116 accessed by the staircase beside the main entrance.