I never thought this day would come! No word on any US shows. I might have to head back to the UK sooner than I'd planned to. This is, quite literally, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Kate Bush announces first series of live shows since 1979 After a 35-year absence, the singer makes her long-awaited live return with 15 London dates for her Before the Dawn series 21 March 2014 | The Guardian
Kate Bush will play her first series of shows since 1979, performing August and September in the UK.
Bush will play 15 shows at London’s Eventim Apollo starting 26 August as part of her Before the Dawn series of shows. Announcing the news on her website on Friday, the singer said: “I hope you will be able to join us and I look forward to seeing you there.”
Famously, Bush has only toured once before, during a six-week jaunt around Britain and mainland Europe. “By the end,” she subsequently recalled, “I felt a terrific need to retreat as a person, because I felt that my sexuality – which in a way I hadn’t really had a chance to explore myself – was being given to the world in a way which I found impersonal.”
Theories to explain her absence from the tour circuit have included a fear of flying, perfectionism and the death of her lighting director, Bill Duffield, who was killed in an accident during her 2 April 1979 concert at Poole Arts Centre. In an interview with Mojo magazine in 2011, Bush said she’d also endured extreme exhaustion as a result of the tour. “It was enormously enjoyable. But physically it was absolutely exhausting.”
“I still don’t give up hope completely that I’ll be able to do some live work,” she added, “but it’s certainly not in the picture at the moment because I just don’t quite know how that would work with how my life is now.”
Combining music, dance, poetry, mime, burlesque, magic and theatre, the show was co-ordinated by the 20-year-old Bush with Anthony Van Laast – who later choreographed the Mamma Mia! movie and several West End hits – and two young dancers, Stewart Avon Arnold and Gary Hurst. An elaborate set was dominated by a large, ribbed screen on which slides and film footage could be projected.
Performing songs primarily from her first two albums, The Kick Inside and Lionheart, the show played host to 13 performers, 17 costume changes and 24 songs. It also featured her brother John, while Simon Drake performed illusions and magic tricks.
The singer has made isolated and rare appearances since her tour in 1979, performing at a 1982 Prince’s Trust concert, a 1986 Comic Relief show, and additional dates in 1987, including a performance of Running Up that Hill at The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball accompanied by David Gilmour. In 1981, Bush’s seminal Lionheart tour was released on video; boxed set that included a CD version of the performance at Hammersmith Odeon came out in 1994.
Kate Bush released her last album, 50 Words for Snow, in 2011.
Tickets for the shows will go on sale at 9.30 am on 28 March. Purchases are limited to a maximum of four per order.
Tour dates
26 August – London’s Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith 27 August – London’s Eventim Apollo 29 August – London’s Eventim Apollo 30 August – London’s Eventim Apollo 2 September – London’s Eventim Apollo 3 September – London’s Eventim Apollo 5 September – London’s Eventim Apollo 6 September – London’s Eventim Apollo 9 September – London’s Eventim Apollo 10 September – London’s Eventim Apollo 12 September – London’s Eventim Apollo 13 September – London’s Eventim Apollo 16 September – London’s Eventim Apollo 17 September – London’s Eventim Apollo 19 September – London’s Eventim Apollo
Yeah, the magnitude of this surprise announcement can't be overstated. I can't imagine a bigger music story this year -- not even Bowie (bless him) coming out of touring retirement. THIRTY-FIVE YEARS. She last toured before I was born. This is insane. You're right, tickets are going to sell out instantly and ticket brokers are going to have a field day. I've got to find a way to make this work, though. Unless, of course, she ends up doing a NY or LA residency as well. That seems unlikely, though.
Lol, thank you. That must be it! Kylie, Kate and Bernadette - to name a few.
I am stunned by the news - happily stunnned.
I am just surmising but I feel all the recent music releases and now these live dates are, somehow, for her son. Not sure why I think this or if it makes any sense.
More live dates may happen, depending on how Kate feels after this lot.
If you plan on getting tickets - fingers crossed for you.
Vera, this one note from the poster gives me a tiny glimmer of hope about landing a ticket:
"Tickets are limited to 4 per booking and photo ID will be required to be presented by the lead booker upon arrival at the venue on the night of the show."
Though that might cut down on scalpers, it sounds like a logistical nightmare for the night of the show unless they have an army of ushers ready to check people's IDs. And I wonder it means you cannot resell your ticket(s). I would try for tix, but it's too early for me to know if Icould actually travel to the UK at that time. Hmmm. Decision, decisions.
As for her motivation for playing live show again, in recent (meaning last 2-3 yrs) interviews, she's dropped some hints saying hat she'd "love to tour again before [she's] ancient." Who knows what the motivations are. As you say, could be her son growing up, could be that she wants a new pool. Whatever the reason, I'll take it.
I was just coming to post this, but you beat me to it!
A rush of blood went to my head when I read this a few minutes ago, I'm still dizzy.
I'm frantically trying to formulate a plan where this might happen for me. Y'know, it's not looking likely at this point, but the mere possibility is thrilling.
THRILLING!
Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$
To quote one of Kate's songs: WOW-OH-WOW-OH-WOW-OH-WOW-OH-WOW-OHHHOOOH! Unbe-LIV-able!
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
All we ever look for--a god. All we ever look for--ooh, a drug. All we ever look for--a great big hug. All we ever look for--a little bit of you. All we ever look for--a little bit of you, too. All we ever look for,
A chance to see Kate Bush LIVE!?!?!?
Oh my God!
I say we score a pile of tix and charter a BWW plane.
ETA: One of those dates is my 50th Birthday. I have been pondering how to mark the occasion. I think I now have the answer...
You think, what do you want?
You think, make a decision...
That would be a marvelous 50th b'day celebration, Addison! If you end up scoring tix, let me know. I'm pretty certain I'm going to make this work. If we end up there the same night, I'll buy you a birthday drink! Not sure what they'll be serving at a Kate Bush gig -- probably concoctions made of dragonfruit, elderberries and the distant laughter of a forgotten 19th century painter.
HorseTears, don't be so certain - I imagine the demand is so high that getting tickets will be like a lottery. Even logging on to ticketmaster at the exact moment tickets go on sale isn't a guarantee. The UK doesn't "spring forward" until March 30, by the way, so keep that in mind!
I've decided I'm going to make this work for me too. Reality be damned, this is Kate Bush. I plan on booking my ticket, and worrying about the pesky details such as flights, accomodation (and mainly how to pay for them) later.
I'm so excited!
Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$
"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one".
-Felicia Finley-
I imagine tickets will be like gold dust. It's cool she's playing the Hammersmith Apollo as she has played at that venue when she did her first UK tour.
I can't believe it. I panicked at first when the site wouldn't load for aaaaaaages, but then I clicked on the link ticketmaster tweeted, and everything went surprisingly smoothly. I am in shock. Is this actually happening?!
I would go back to bed but I will not be able to sleep. I am literally dancing around the room.
Step 2) Magic up a few thousand dollars to get to London
Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$
Thought I would give this thread a bump as the shows start next week!
Kate has requested no phones, tablets or cameras at her concerts. Good on her I say! The concerts will take place in a theatre, so it will be a more intimate experience.. As much as I would love some footage to sneak out, I do respect her wishes.
I am hopeful a DVD will be released at some point.
1.Lily 2.Hounds of Love 3.Joanni 4.Top of the City 5.Running Up That Hill 6.King of the Mountain
The Ninth Wave 7.And Dream of Sheep 8.Under Ice 9.Waking the Witch 10.Watching You Without Me 11.Jig of Life 12.Hello Earth 13.The Morning Fog
A Sky of Honey 14.Prelude 15.Prologue 16.An Architect's Dream 17.The Painter's Link 18.Sunset 19.Aerial Tal 20.Somewhere in Between 21.Tawny Moon (new song sung by Bertie) 22.Nocturn 23.Aerial
Encore: 24.Among Angels (Kate solo piano) 25.Cloudbusting
Damn. I teared up reading those reviews. I imagine I would be a mess if I could actually see the concert.
BAM, Kate? Pwease?
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali
Incredible. I told myself if she turned up and did a five-minute set consisting only of "Running Up That Hill" the trip will have been worth it and my life made.
One month to go. Anxiety is creeping in - I just know there is going to be some sort of catastrophe, a volcanic ash cloud, air strike, or something.
Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$