The city music venue where David Bowie played one time only

A street mural has been painted in honour of Bowie’s one-time performance in the Cambridgeshire city

Before some musical artists conquered the world, they played smaller venues to kick start their career. Across Cambridgeshire, there were a number of venues used by famous musicians that people may not know about.

There was the former Boat Race pub in Cambridge where Oasis played in 1994, as well as Queen who played at the Cambridge Corn Exchange. In Peterborough, there was one music venue where David Bowie played for one time only.

While it was mainly used as a dance venue, The Palais in Wentworth Street was a popular place to be. The venue was established by Wisbech promoter Norman Jacobs.

Mr Jacobs previously provided entertainment at the Corn Exchange, however his lease for the building ended in May 1964. As a result, he moved his venue to Wentworth Street with dreams of a bigger entertainment venue for people.

Throughout the 1960s, the venue was host to a number of big artists including The Kinks, The Who, The Hollies and Manfred Mann. Bowie performed at the Palais with his short-lived band, David Bowie & The Buzz, on March 10, 1966.

This was the only time Bowie performed in Peterborough. Just three years after his Peterborough performance, he shot to fame with Space Oddity.

This was during Bowie’s most famous era in the 1970s when he was his alter ego, Ziggy Stardust. To mark his only performance in Peterborough, which many people may not know about, a mural has been painted in his honour.

The mural is outside the former Palais venue, and was painted by street artist Nathan Murdoch and artist Tony Nero. For anyone who didn’t know Bowie performed in Peterborough before stardom, they can go and see this new piece of street art that marks the occasion.