FEATURE:
The Kiss of Seedcake
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in 1989/PHOTO CREDIT: Kevin Cummins
Pitching a Kate Bush Seminar or Symposium
__________
I raised this idea…
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush with Ray Davies at the 1978 BPI Awards
back in 2021. I have written about how there needs to be more interaction among Kate Bush fans and ‘experts’. Whether a convention or a special event, I have been thinking whether there is any way to set something up pretty soon. I am always thinking whether I could undertake a larger Kate Bush project. I am still toying with a podcast. Not a regular thing but one that commemorates a special anniversary. Perhaps Hounds of Love is a perfect excuse. That album turns forty on 16th September. I don’t really think that I will ever write a book. I would like to think I could compile this tome that is a forensic look at Kate Bush’s career. Maybe a look back at her earlier life and take it right through to the current day. I feel like a convention or special event might be on the horizon, though it would take more money and organisation. The thing about something more academic is that you get to hear about Kate Bush’s work in a less conventional way. There was a convention/symposium held in Scotland years ago. I can’t remember who organised it, but the event saw people discuss Kate Bush. They had written essays and papers. Looking at her as a fashion icon or innovator for example. Rather than it being very dry and like a lecture, it was a much more accessible and loose affair. I wish I could pull up details of that event. However, it got me thinking how there is not much of that today. It would be wonderful to hold an event – what would the correct term even be?! – and have these discussions. Maybe authors who have written about Kate Bush. People ion fields like fashion, literature, film and radio who could talk about Kate Bush from different perspectives.
Maybe held in Scotland again, there is so much more to discuss about her now than ever. I would like to get involved. I am not sure whether I would take a special topic or would be more general. I feel like a discussion around The Kick Inside, her 1978 debut album, would appeal to me. Approaching that in a particular way. Maybe as a female album. One that was more mature and daring than anything released around that time. How it has impacted women in music since. Dissect some of the songs and their lyrics. It is good that there is online discussion about Kate Bush. That she is subject to so much interaction and debate. I recently wrote a feature asking whether it would be possible to get there legendary Kate Bush photographers in the same space. Gered Mankowitz, Guido Harari and John Carder Bush (her brother) have photographed Kate Bush at various different stages of her career. Exploring their photos and talking about Kate Bush as this photographic subject. There is so much to consider and unravel when it comes to this artist. Her influence is so strong today. Perhaps s mix of discussions and live performances. Maybe having it more like live podcasts rather than someone at a lectern or on a stage on their own. This year, as I have said a few times, is a big one for anniversaries. I am sure I can come up with something regarding Hounds of Love and an anniversary podcast. Or something a bit bigger. I know I am running out time. Less than three months to go! I do hope that someone somewhere does something special for Hounds of Love. In the meantime, I am looking around and all of these people across multiple fields who would be wonderful and engaging talking about Kate Bush.
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in a promotional photo for Aerial in 2005
I will finish off soon. If anyone has any interest in this or would have thoughts regarding who could be involved, it may be something to seriously ponder for the future. I am excited to see what the next year or two holds for Kate Bush. A new album will come along at some point. I am sure there will be other activity and engagement. She is always doing something, so who knows what more can come! It is a great and exciting time to be a Kate Bush fan. There are virtually no bigger events or projects about Kate Bush. Maybe because it takes a lot of time and money to pull it together. I would love for there to be this one or two-day event where we could have filmed podcasts, talks and live performances that celebrates Kate Bush. So many tantalising options regarding speakers and guests. Rather than it being another far-fetched idea that will come to nothing, I think this has more substance and potential. That it could genuinely be realised and a success. Not this year, though possibly in the next year or two. If anyone has any ideas or their own version of this then I would be eager to hear about it. There is no real limit to what could be talked about and features. She has influenced so many sectors and spheres of culture. Beyond that. All the artists of today who are clearly influenced by Kate Bush. A chance to put this under the spotlight. Talk about Kate Bush as one of the all-time best producers. In lieu of any documentaries or anything like that, this would be something that could be a great alternative. I am going to end with some obvious words from a Kate Bush song (the title of a song in fact) but they seem apt in this case. Having this incredible celebration and examination of Kate Bush. Something that could be streamed and people could attend too. A chance for people to come together and learn something new about a pioneering and truly remarkable artist. I would put my hand up, either to be involved or help organise things. There are few greater thrills than spending some valuable time discussing…
THIS woman’s work.