FEATURE:
The Bigger Sky
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in 1985/PHOTO CREDIT: John Carder Bush
Why We Need a Coming Together to Celebrate Kate Bush
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I have spoken about…
PHOTO CREDIT: Trinity Mirror/Mirrorpix/Alamy
the desire to do something bigger and ambitious regarding Kate Bush. I do a load of features and will be for decades to come. I have always wanted to go beyond that and create something that is a more large-scale. I love writing about Kate Bush, yet I feel there is something more I can do. In terms of what that could be, I have always been drawn to a documentary. It seems like the world really does need one. Not only would it be the first we have had in a decade – the BBC’s 2014 documentary being the most recent televised one -, but it would also bring her music to new people. Get artists and those across the worlds of literature, theatre and beyond together to discuss what Kate Bush means to them. Consider all the new attention on her since 2022, I feel that it would be a perfect opportunity. I think that the reality is that Kate Bush would refuse. I was talking with Matt Everitt and he said, when I brought up the idea of doing a Kate Bush documentary, how difficult it is. She would say ‘no’ to anything that comes her way. Apparently there have been attempts to get documentaries made. It has always been met with refusal. That seems a shame. I guess any documentary idea would need to go through her, as it is her music and career we are exploring. I am not sure why Kate Bush is against documentaries. Perhaps she doesn’t want to see herself on the small screen. Maybe not really interested in giving her permission for something like that. I still maintain we need a documentary of some sort. It is hard to even pitch an audio documentary or some bigger project on the radio. I have submitted ideas for BBC Radio 4 pitching rounds. I mention Kate Bush and doing a documentary and the response is a little wary. That there needs to be this twist or unique selling point. An angle that is more obscure or niche than simply talking about her music or focusing on particular albums.
I think that there is this general belief that there is little appetite for Kate Bush. If documentaries have been made before, then why do we need any new ones. I don’t think there has to be a twist or anything too narrow. If you think about how Kate Bush’s music is reaching a broader audience and there very much is this need to ensure that she reached younger generations and stays in their mind, surely something that is both unique and wide-ranging would be the best approach? You would want them to tune into a radio documentary that is accessible and detailed. I often struggle to get feedback from production companies what stations might look for. So many look for Kate Bush to be involved. That seems to be the lure and incentive. If she is not then they lose interest. Kate Bush would not need to give permission for a radio documentary or project. It would be a courtesy to ask, though it would not be as tricky as mounting a documentary on T.V. Writing to Bush about an idea that she might be interested in would be tantalising. I guess pitching a documentary right now might lead to silence or rejection. It may be the case that a few years need to pass before she is more open to the suggestion. I will end with an idea that I recently pitched that I think would be hard to reject. It would also bring fans together and celebrate a masterpiece album on a big anniversary. I am glad that there are books about Kate Bush and magazine articles. In terms of provoking discussion and going deeper. Regular salutes to Kate Bush. There is not much out there that does this.
That is why I write articles. It is a way of talking about her regularly and having control to write what I want when. Magazines and music websites would not really commission Kate Bush features unless there was a reason. A new album or anniversary coming. As such, you don’t really see too many cropping up. The odd thing here and there. I have been tempted to write a book about her in the past but I am not that good a writer. I do not have the discipline to write a book. My language and vocabulary is quite basic, so I am not sure whether I could engage people. It is a huge undertaking too and would require a lot of time. I don’t have the time or luxury to take time off work to do that. Maybe something for the very distant future. Many ask when I will do a podcast. Again, this is something I mentioned to Matt Everitt and he was very encouraging. Everitt, in case you don’t know, is a broadcaster with BBC Radio 6 Music and is a former musician. A great drummer and top bloke, he interviewed Kate Bush in 2016 in promotion of the Before the Dawn live album. In theory, a podcast would be great. I could provide regular episodes and talk to a range of people. There are some drawbacks I am not sure how to overcome in the short-term. I have vocal issues where I regularly get sore throats and hoarseness. Extended conversation is quite hard and would take a lot out of me. Also, living in a crowded flat that is rarely quiet and there is a lot of distraction and stress. Not a space I am comfortable or happy in, you would hear that on a podcast. A studio would be ideal but that would be expensive. Moving to any new flat would be a bit challenging in regards to creating an environment that is quiet and conducive to creativity and conversation. Also, I do not have the technical knowledge to produce a podcast or make it sound professional. I would still really love to do it.
I am not sure how to splice in clips of Kate Bush’s music and feel that it would be a challenge doing something that on my own. Hiring a podcast company would also cost quite a bit. I am also keen to meet people and record a podcast face to face. I would not be able to realistically do that in a flat or in a shared house. It would need a space that was large and quiet enough so that there would not be interruptions and issues. I feel, unless I can make big life changes, learn how to produce a podcast and really overcome health and voice issues, that it might be out of reach for a while. Juggling this with work and trying to find the time is also a consideration. Even so, there are precious few Kate Bush podcasts. Apart from the excellent Kate Bush Fan Podcast and a few smaller ones, there is nothing out there. Those podcasts do not really do weekly episodes. It is something that I want to do but cannot really reconcile the issues that I face right now. But, yes, it is an ambition. It would not necessarily be too expensive. I am keen to interview authors like Graeme Thomson (Under the Ivy: The Life and Music of Kate Bush), Leah Kardos (whose 33/13 book for Hounds of Love is out in November) and some well-known fans of Kate Bush. In addition to those essential in the community, so they can chat about their favourite songs, albums and moments. With Before the Dawn’s tenth anniversary coming later this month, it would be a great opportunity to launch it. Alas, I feel there are stumbling blocks that will take some time to get over – in spite of this desire inside of me to get something made.
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush performing Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) in 1985/PHOTO CREDIT: United Archives/Alamy
Even though it would take some crowd-funding, I maintain that an event next year might solve issues around documentaries and a podcast. I have written about this before. I have a desire to get people together. We have Kate Bush events. These are usually smaller ones. Club nights, tribute acts, cabaret nights and the odd convention. Nothing really on a larger scale. Perhaps logistics and finances limit what people can do. If a documentary requires more sign-off and involvement from Kate Bush in terms of clearing the music, maybe not so with an event. Perhaps the barrier with a documentary is her not really wanting to be on the screen. She might feel uncomfortable with the idea of people discussing her and parts of her career she is not happy with. I am not sure. There is that expense. It is also time-consuming. It can potentially take years to pull it all together. Something that would be an event that is also like a live podcast, next year sees Hounds of Love turning forty. If there was a one-off event held at a theatre, venue or significant site relating to Kate Bush and her music, that would not take as long to plan and realise. She could not object to this. Also, an album that she is happy to reissue and repackage. When I pitched this idea recently, some suggested small venues. I am not keen on the smaller scale. Going to a low-capacity venue or somewhere that is less expensive. The idea is to take this somewhere bigger so that we can get a lot of fans in plus guests and artists. I know that this would cost more money. I am ambitious and do not really want to do what others are. As great as those events are, this one has to be huge and think a lot grander and more professional. In terms of the guestlist and the production values. It requires a space equipped and set up for that.
A one-off Hounds of Love event would be quite involved and expensive, yet the commitment is for single evening – a two or three-hour event. It would take away any pressure of recording something at home or spending months and years pitching a documentary. As events regarding Kate Bush happen fairly regularly, there are no real barriers here in terms of permission and intellectual property. A courtesy call or letter to her agent and, I guess, figuring out how feasible it is to get permission to use music and clips for a relatively affordable fee. That may be a stumbling block. I have been to live podcasts at venues and music is rarely played. The clearance fee to use entire tracks. On podcasts, you can use snatches and snippets and not necessarily have to part with money. That might be different for a bigger live event. I am in the process of speaking with venues and discoing with people the ins and outs who have done something similar for other artists/albums. In time, I want to do a regular podcast and, hopefully, have the leading Kate Bush podcast on the market. I want to make it a success and have it sound professional. Where I am at the moment, I am not sure how realistic that is.
A longer shot would be a documentary or a book. Of course, I would like to be invited to the table one of these days when magazines do features and spreads about Kate Bush. I am not as big a name as some who contribute but, as I am the most prolific writer about Kate Bush in the world – in terms of the regularity of my features -, I hope that this buys me a spot one day! A book or some sort would be good though, as I say, I don’t think I have the discipline and skillset to be able to that. I am very much hopeful, if it is not ludicrously expensive, of doing an event next year. On 16th September. When Hounds of Love turns forty. It may be far-fetched when you think about money and location but, if there was an opportunity to crowd-fund, then it could happen. It is that thing of physically bringing people together, rather than digitally. Podcasts and features are wonderful, though you never really feel part of it. Like you are there. If you could literally be there, or at least watch a livestream, that would be awesome! It would sort of mix a documentary and a podcast. An evening all about her most acclaimed album. If it could happen, then the possibilities would be fantastic. It might be a bit of a dream but, the more we share our love for Kate Bush, the more I want to get people together! Looking ahead, this one-time thing is tantalising. Just pulling it together. I may have to add sums and think about all the challenges and hurdles. If it is insurmountable then it will have to wait. However, if it is a case of raising necessary funding, this is something I will the pitch with the wider community. The Fish People. Saluting a genius album on stage with some special guests and a couple of hundred fans. It would be something to look forward to…
NEXT year.