FEATURE:
A Plea to the Fans…
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush photographed in 2014 to promote her hugely successful residency, Before The Dawn/PHOTO CREDIT: Trevor Leighton
The Long-Held Ambition to Get a Kate Bush Podcast Completed
___________
I have written about this a few times…
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in 1978
but this and next year are important ones in terms of Kate Bush. Although the anniversary I am most interested in happens next year, there are a couple this year. Later in the year, it is also the fortieth anniversary of The Dreaming in September. I am going to write quite a few features about it in the run-up. Next year is the forty-fifth anniversary of her debut album, The Kick Inside. In February, the world will celebrate forty-five years of one of the most impressive and original debuts ever. Whilst I might do a podcast beyond that album, it will definitely be a starting point. I also want to go deeper into her work. Rather than, at the moment, it being a series of podcasts, I want to do an extensive one where I speak with fans of her work. Including musicians, broadcasters and other semi-famous superfans, I was hoping that it could be recorded in a room or studio so that a select audience of fans could also attend. I have previously suggested Abbey Road for the location, as Bush recorded there a bit through her career. The Kick Inside was recorded at AIR Studios in London, so that is another possibility. In terms of size, there needs to be room for the guests to speak and sit, in addition to potential filming equipment were it to be filmed. I have previously speculated how musicians could provide cover version of Kate Bush songs to go alongside everything else. Whereas a live performance and stage might prove too demanding and costly, I am keen on the idea of them recording songs before the time. They would then be interspersed through the broadcast.
In terms of the title, I am keen to stick with All the Love (it is the title of a track from The Dreaming), and maybe adding : The Work of Kate Bush. The forty-fifth anniversary of The Kick Inside would be the jumping-off point. In terms of date of release/broadcast, it would be a bit before the album’s anniversary on 17th February. I would hope to have it recorded, were it not live, several months beforehand. Such an important anniversary will probably not be marked in such a way by anyone else. To the best of my knowledge, there has not been a podcast or recent broadcast where Kate Bush fans have properly discussed her work. People can correct me if I am mistaken. I have a vague guestlist in mind, though this is always subject to change. I want a broad spectrum of people who, in different ways, have been impacted by Bush. This would also include one or two who run fan sites and have a connection of this manner. Playing songs, interview clips and live performances, it would be a podcast that I have been thinking about for years now! I cannot do it single-handed. I do not own the space to realise such a vision. Also, in terms of funding, it may be beyond my budget. I know that Abbey Road do not host podcasts and recordings from those who raise money through crowd-funding. That may rule them out. Regardless, there are other general studios and locations that the podcast could be held from.
I want to make it a location special to her. As I am starting with The Kick Inside, something linked to that debut. Maybe AIR Studios is possible. I know she took dance lessons in Covent Garden, so that may be another possibility. As much as anything, I want to get people together to express their love for Kate Bush! There has been a general surfeit of podcasts or anything like this lately – or at all come to think about it! Although there is time to get it together, funding and location are the biggest considerations and obstacles. The latter can be booked when the former is dealt with. I have been reluctant to launch a crowdfunder until I can decide who will be involved and when it will happen. But, as soon as I have that detail firmed up, I will reveal it. The biggest plea is to the fans; the question is whether they might fund something like this were there rewards that they would receive. Again, those details are not 100%, but it would be worth their money! Now that things are opening up and there is a bit more certainty regarding events and gatherings, I should not imagine any real issues between now and the end of the year. If there is a surge again in the winter, I hope to have things recorded before any potential restrictions. From previous posts, there has been encouragement and support for a Kate Bush podcast. I will do a specific one about The Kick Inside at some point. In order to give her entire career a proper focus, I want to start off more broadly. It has been a dream of mine for a while, so I wondered whether people would support the concept. Of course, if there is backing (people would go to a crowdfunder) then I can release dates, guests and more details. At the moment, I wondered whether Kate Bush fans would back All the Love, so that we can mark the anniversary of The Kick Inside next year (or before, as we would need it edited well in advance)? It is a rare chance to get a lot of people together to mark and celebrate…
THIS woman’s amazing work!