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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.

From The Guardian (http://bit.ly/1jaJA4g):

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

Updated On: 3/21/14 at 07:05 AM

VeraCharles3

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#2
Posted: 3/21/14 at 7:24am

HorseTears - I am not stalking your every thread. Honest!!

I am beyong excited. I love Kate Bush.

I don't think I will have a hope in hell of getting a ticket. I think they will sell instantly.

The Before the Dawn photo is wonderful - a little nod to her Ophelia in a lifejacket from The Ninth Wave?

Wonderful, unexpected news.

HorseTears

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#3
Posted: 3/21/14 at 7:37am

Stalk away, Vera. We both just have great taste. KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!

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.

VeraCharles3

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#4
Posted: 3/21/14 at 7:48am

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.

HorseTears

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#5
Posted: 3/21/14 at 7:55am

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.

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#6
Posted: 3/21/14 at 7:57am

I hope she crosses the pond. Kate Bush is one of my goddesses.

It's handled.

HorseTears

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#7
Posted: 3/21/14 at 8:10am

Mine too, Carlos, but I wouldn't hold your breath.

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#8
Posted: 3/21/14 at 8:12am

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!

Sick, pathetic POS

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#9
Posted: 3/21/14 at 10:18am

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

HorseTears

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#10
Posted: 3/21/14 at 10:22am

That is the perfect quote for this announcement!

trentsketch

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#11
Posted: 3/21/14 at 10:25am

So exciting. Can't wait for video to show up of these shows.

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#12
Posted: 3/21/14 at 10:56am

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...

Updated On: 3/21/14 at 10:56 AM

HorseTears

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#13
Posted: 3/22/14 at 3:37am

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.

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#14
Posted: 3/22/14 at 11:22am

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!

Sick, pathetic POS

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#15
Posted: 3/22/14 at 1:21pm

Exciting!!!

"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-

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#16
Posted: 3/22/14 at 1:38pm

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.

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#17
Posted: 3/28/14 at 5:15am

Tickets on sale in 16 minutes!!

I have butterflies in my stomach right now.

PLEASE let me get a ticket.

Sick, pathetic POS

Jay Lerner-Z

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#18
Posted: 3/28/14 at 5:52am

Ticket booked!!!!!!!

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

Sick, pathetic POS

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#19
Posted: 8/20/14 at 6:05am

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.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/19/kate-bush-no-photos-videos-before-the-dawn-tour-live_n_5690564.html

Also it appears she will be recreating the whole of "The Ninth Wave" either on film or on stage.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/kate-bush-spent-three-days-3745344

Sounds amazing.

Jay Lerner-Z - enjoy the show and hope you report back

x

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#20
Posted: 8/27/14 at 3:30am

This is the set-list from her concert

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

VeraCharles3

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#21
Posted: 8/27/14 at 3:36am

A couple of reviews.

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/aug/26/kate-bush-before-the-dawn-eventim-apollo-review

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/live-music-reviews/11056359/Kate-Bush-Hammersmith-Apollo-review-still-wondrous-rich-and-powerful.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/kate-bush-hammersmith-apollo-music-review-a-preamble-then-a-coup-de-thtre--and-suddenly-the-long-wait-felt-worth-it-9692634.html

Show starts at 7.45pm and ends at 11pm. Seems very theatrical as you would expect.

Sounds wonderful and amazing. So glad it all went well for Kate.

Borstalboy

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#22
Posted: 8/27/14 at 2:24pm

Damn. I teared up reading those reviews. I imagine I would be a mess if I could actually see the concert.

BAM, Kate? Pwease?

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#23
Posted: 8/27/14 at 5:53pm

My resolve to stay spoiler-free lasted 24 hours.

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.

Sick, pathetic POS

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KATE BUSH to play first live shows in THIRTY-FIVE years!#24
Posted: 8/27/14 at 7:20pm

Your'e going, Jay? Lucky duck!

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