Review: Absolute Bowie at the Half Moon

The Half Moon in Putney has long been one of London’s most storied venues. Since the 1960s, it has hosted everyone from the Rolling Stones and Elvis Costello to folk legends like John Martyn and Roy Harper. Today, under Young’s Brewery ownership, it continues with nightly programming that mixes emerging acts with some of the country’s most in-demand tribute bands.

On Friday night it was the turn of Absolute Bowie, a touring act dedicated to recreating the sound and spectacle of David Bowie’s catalogue. The band are regulars on the circuit, flying in from Australia for this show, and the Half Moon was filled to the back with a multi-generational crowd—twenty-somethings pressed against the stage, older fans reminiscing at the bar, and even some who remembered the venue in its 1960s heyday. The mix gave the night a communal, celebratory feel.

The performance more than justified the turnout. The frontman, cycling through Bowie’s iconic costumes, captured the singer’s vocal style and stage presence with both accuracy and affection. The guitarist stood out for his meticulous recreation of Bowie’s riffs and solos, right down to the feedback and tonal quirks of the originals. The rest of the band was equally tight, delivering a set that spanned Bowie’s broad repertoire with energy and precision.

By the finale, the crowd was singing, dancing, and cheering as though at a stadium rather than a pub venue. Tribute bands will never replace the discovery of new talent, but Absolute Bowie showed why they continue to sell out nights at the Half Moon: they turn nostalgia into a living, joyous experience.