The Dublin Bowie Festival will return to the city on April 13-14, celebrating the 50th-anniversary of the landmark '72 album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars.

Now in its 7th edition, the festival will bring Bowie fans a week of live music, film, art and dance all dedicated to the iconic artist's legacy.

As a personal touch, this year's event will feature guest appearances from artists that worked closely with the singer throughout his career. From London and Chicago respectively, Dana Gillespie and Ava Cherry will act as the headliners for the festival.

Gillespie, a renowned blues singer, sang on the Ziggy Stardust album before working with the likes of Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan and Jimmy Page.

Cherry performed with Bowie from '73-'75. Her list of collaborations is similarly star-stuffed including artists like Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross and Curtis Mayfield.

Along with her own performance, Cherry will make a guest appearance with the I Heart Bowie band in Dublin's Opium on April 23. Tribute groups Heroes From Mars and The London Bots will provide live entertainment at the Bowie Ball on April 23.

The Salty Dog No Stars will perform both Ziggy Stardust and the Bowie co-produced Transformer from Lou Reed, which is also celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Along with the live music, the Lighthouse Cinema will be showing The Man Who Sewed The World, Lee Scriven's documentary on the life and times of Freddie Burretti, the fashion designer of Bowie's Ziggy Stardust costumes. Turn and Face The Strange, will also be shown. The film revisits the classic Hunky Dory album starring the young Irish singer Shobsy.

The art exhibition sees a five-year retrospective of Irish graphic designer Cartoon Bowie's works in the surrounds of Rathfarnham Castle. The exhibition will run from April 13 until May 2.

One of Ireland's best-known drag artists, Veda Lady will put on a Ziggy-inspired show - titled Lady Stardust - at The George on April 20.

Tickets for Dublin's Bowie Festival will be on sale from February 24 via Universe.