Archive audio recordings for the years 1982 and 1983, The Dreaming and After have now been added, and can be accessed via the index page HERE. 
There will be no page for 1984, because we do not have any audio recordings for that year. However 1985, the year of the Hounds of Love album and its various singles, will be available shortly.
Opening night of Before the Dawn was utterly unforgettable, this day six years ago on August 26th 2014. I documented Kate’s amazing return to the live stage in a three-part podcast series which you can listen to below.
BEFORE THE DAWN Podcast Part 1 – The Dream Begins...
In this first episode, I trace the origins of Kate’s live comeback through the initial concept, rehearsals, massive media coverage, ticket frenzy and right up till opening night…
BEFORE THE DAWN Podcast Part 2 – The Show!
This 90-minute episode takes the listener right through her opening night performance on 26th August 2014, song-by-song, capturing the atmosphere, describing the on-stage action and celebrating one of the greatest returns to live performance in music history!
BEFORE THE DAWN Podcast Part 3 – Kate’s Triumph
The run of 22 shows begins! In this final Before the Dawn episode – all the excitement, ecstatic reviews, historic album chart success, celebrity attendees, awards, acclaim and the live album are all discussed in detail as Seán revisits the impact and lasting legacy of Before The Dawn….he even takes you for a browse through the merch stall. Enjoy!
Ryan Tubridy hosts the main morning national radio programme on Irish RTE Radio 1 and, having recently discovered and been impressed by Kate’s work on the 1996 track Mná na hÉireann from the Common Ground (Voices of Modern Irish Music) project he asked musician and producer Donal Lunny on air to discuss it. Kate sang the song in the Irish language, and we discovered today for the first time that she actually attended the track recording in the RTE Studios in Dublin with the orchestra present, with Kate singing along with them before refining her final vocal later back in her own studios in England with Del Palmer. You can hear today’s interview below.
Following the rebuilding of this site, the links on the HomeGround Audio Archive pages for 1978 and 1980 have now been restored, and a new page for 1979, the year of Kate’s first live shows, has now been added. The available years in the archive can be accessed at the Archive Index page.
LATER – New page for 1981 now added.
We have to continue to caution about the audio quality of some of this early material. When, in the late 70s and early 80s. we started gathering what would become this archive, we were collecting tapes which were umpteenth generation copies of material originally recorded (most likely) by balancing a microphone against a decidedly low-fi medium wave radio or analogue TV. These are precious survivals of material that has not (yet) appeared in a better format.
Regular Kate Bush Fan Podcast listeners will know that we host the Bush Telegraph series of audio chats with Darrell & Paul. Here’s Part 2 of their video episode Part 1 is here. Enjoy!
Paul and Darrell round up fans’ thoughts and comments about their favourite moments on Kate songs from ‘Hounds Of Love’ through to ‘Before The Dawn’. One of the guys is spotted wearing the BTD life jacket t-shirt, which is truly a rare sighting! Bush Telegraph are well known for their Kate reminiscences as teenagers, and this episode is no exception. We also get a fleeting visit from a live deer. Yes, you read that correctly!
British-Nigerian artist, Yinka Shonibare CBE, has included Kate’s name printed in gold on the spine of one of 2,700 books in an installation at the Tate Modern in London. Some of the books feature the names of first or second generation immigrants to Britain – Kate’s late mother, Hannah, was from Ireland. “Whether celebrated or lesser known, they have all made significant contributions to British culture and history. There are also books with the names of those who have opposed immigration. Other books are unmarked, suggesting that the story of immigration in Britain is still being written.” You can find Kate’s name, and read more about this installation here: https://thebritishlibraryinstallation.com/ (with thanks to James Russell for the news and photos of the artwork)
Andy Samberg‘s successful new time-loop comedy, Palm Springs, feature’s Kate’s Cloudbusting on the soundtrack in a pivotal scene toward the end of the film. The film is released on US streaming site, Hulu. The Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor both starred in and produced the new film, and had a hand in selecting the music for its soundtrack.
He says on the Pandora Stories podcast: “When we were making this movie we definitely wanted there to be a specific musical vibe to the soundtrack, we agreed that we wanted it to be something that was catchy and hooky but not necessarily modern stuff we loved… not stuff from the present day. And also songs that are classics, but not necessarily the ones you’ve heard too many times already.”
About Cloudbusting, he says it was “one of the best songs ever made…I love Kate Bush… I had this vision of this moment and this song and it sort of all coming together and it just made me feel very emotional and happy and made my brain tingle.” Samberg was determined that the song would make it into the film – so he delivered a personal plea to Kate after it had already been written into the script.
I wrote a letter to Kate Bush. I don’t know if she read it. If she did and this gets back to her somehow: ‘Thank you, Kate, so much. You’re a genius!’
If she never read it, all the same, I’m just so thrilled and happy that we got to put it in the movie. It elevates the moment so much. The moment in the movie was really designed for the song.
Andy Samberg
In an interview with Consequence of Sound, Samberg remarks: “It’s miraculous that we cleared it.”
Absolute Radio in the UK is continuing a new season of documentaries called “I Was There“, introduced by Sophie K, with an episode about Kate’s 1979 tour featuring contributions from choreographer Anthony Van Laast, tour manager Richard Ames and writer Graeme Thomson. You can listen live at 8pm UK time on Sunday August 2nd here: https://planetradio.co.uk/absolute-radio/shows/i-was-there/
The series looks at the most iconic gigs in rock history, and also includes Woodstock, Live Aid, the Isle of Wight Festival 1970, Rolling Stones Altamont 1969, Pink Floyd, Bob Marley and more, all told by the people who were there; from the artists to the roadies, the producers to the fans.
From the episode description: “The first and (up until very recently) last tour of mercurial pop superstar Kate Bush. A show that aimed to combine music, dance, poetry, mime, burlesque, magic and theatre, was it too ambitious for its own good? Or did it change what could be achieved in pop?” Kate also features heavily in the series promo trailer below.
It’s the 30th of July, which means it is the day fans flood social media with birthday messages for a woman who’s music means the world to them. Wishing you a fantastic day, Kate, filled with happiness and surrounded by your loved ones! xxx
Longtime fan of Kate, Big Boi from Outkast, is no stranger to talking about wanting a musical collaboration between himself and his musical hero, Kate. For many years he has hinted at this, and here in a new video interview he once again teases the possibility – but doesn’t confirm it. Could it happen?! Enjoy the interview with Lindsey Parker here including nice stories of him meeting Kate at her show in 2014 and later, in 2017, having dinner with her and discovering the joys of a certain beverage. We’ll be paying close attention as his album release draws nearer…
Did you know @BigBoi is a MASSIVE @KateBushMusic fan? Hear him tell #VolumeWest‘s @lyndseyparker about finally getting to meet her and how that meeting could soon turn into a collaboration…
— SiriusXM VOLUME (@siriusxmvolume) July 23, 2020
Check out the full interview via @SIRIUSXM on-demand here -> https://t.co/8SWIlge1nl pic.twitter.com/Q7LFXG2MoE
As he continues to prepare his book of photos from Kate’s 1979 Lionheart tour, photographer Max Browne has again generously shared some never-before-seen shots. Max says: “I’m just having a drink after finishing going through and scanning all my original ’79 Tour reject shots – and there are some real winners amongst the ones I’ve rescued over the last few weeks so I thought I’d share a few with you. Bear in mind these have never been seen by anyone before…” Thanks Max! We’ll keep everyone posted on book news. More from Max at his site here: http://rockshots.co/
We were very sad to hear that Q Magazine, a famous icon of the British music press since 1986, is to cease publication with its next issue as a result of being hit badly by the current pandemic and dwindling print sales. Kate has been featured in the magazine and on its cover many times, and in 2001 we had the great excitement of Kate emerging to accept their Classic Songwriter award. Who can forget that speech! Q gave Kate mostly very strong reviews throughout her career and only this month had Kate included in an illustrated cover montage. Thinking of all the staff at Q Magazine – thanks for all these years of writing about the music that we love. https://www.qthemusic.com/
We were delighted to see that French musician Pone has had a lovely message from Kate this week. Read about the remarkable “Kate and Me” album in our news story here. Pone, real name Guilhem Gallart, has composed an instrumental beat album, “Kate and Me“, as an ode to Kate Bush – each of the songs contain samples from one or more recordings Kate has made, interwoven with beats and rap vocals. Guilhem lives with motor neurone disease (also known as ALS) and, as he cannot move his body, he uses eye-tracking technology to compose and build his intricate compositions on a computer screen. He writes on his Facebook page: “je viens juste de recevoir le mail le plus incroyable de ma vie”
Dear Guilhem,
I’ve only just become aware of your album, ‘Kate and Me’. I listened to it tonight and it blew me away. It’s very difficult to put into words how moved I am by this work and how great my admiration is for you.The challenges you have overcome in order to accomplish this creation are simply astounding. You absolutely have my blessing if you want to release this album in order to raise money for your charity. Wishing you every success with all your projects.
With very best wishes.
Kate Bush
Regular Kate Bush Fan Podcast listeners will know that we host the Bush Telegraph series of audio chats with Darrell & Paul. For a change, today Bush Telegraph venture into split screen video mode for the very first time and respond to fans’ ‘Moments of Pleasure’ requests. From the comfort of their own homes in the UK and USA, their transatlantic conversation covers fans’ favourite moments from The Kick Inside to The Dreaming, and their own reminiscences. There’s also a bonus pet feature! Enjoy.
We are so sad to be sharing the news that Nina Leilani Deering of Baby Bushka died in a tragic car accident yesterday. If you have seen their live shows you’ll know Nina for her keyboard work and the show stopping version of This Woman’s Work she performed, which is also featured on the album of Kate Bush songs the band recently released. Our thoughts go out to Nina’s family, friends and Baby Bushka bandmates at this very sad time x
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