FEATURE:
Becoming Kate Bush
IN THIS PHOTO: Kate Bush in 1978/PHOTO CREDIT: Gered Mankowitz
Highlighting Two Events Where Fans Truly Get to Embrace the Beloved Queen
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I have been wondering…
IN THIS PHOTO: Fans of Kate Bush congregated at Folkestone Harbour Arm for The Most Wuthering Heights Day/PHOTO CREDIT: Andy Aitchison
whether there will be many opportunities this year for fans of Kate Bush to get together to celebrate her work. I might be involved with something towards the summer around one of her albums. I think a new documentary about her is out this month which I took part in. As I have said before, 2026 is a quieter year in terms of celebrating big anniversaries. None of her studios albums have a special anniversary. There are bits and pieces here and there. However, whilst I tend to look nationally and internationally to what is happening and whether there is anything huge coming along, I tend to ignore the local and smaller. There are communities, smaller venues and areas of the world where Kate Bush is being honoured. A lot of the time, events celebrating artists tend to be watching them live. Exhibitions or tribute concerts. These are great, though I find there is something appealing and very intriguing where fans get together and inhabit the artist. Rather than it being cosplay, it would be fans paying tribute and celebrating the artist in this very loving way. It is not even drag artistry. Kate Bush has tribute acts and there is the brilliant An Evening Without Kate Bush, where Sarah-Louise Young inhabits the icon. Rather than it being a tribute act or covers, this is a theatrical experience. It is a way of seeing Kate Bush without seeing Kate Bush if you see what I mean. That is great. I have not seen her show yet though I do need to at some point. I am looking around to see what events are out there where I and other Kate Bush fans can unite to celebrate her. Become her in a way!
There are two events that caught my eye. As this article highlights, the successful and hugely popular The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever will be held against Folkestone Harbour Arm. Four days before Kate Bush’s sixty-eighth birthday, hundred and thousands of fans will don a red dress and dance in synchronicity – or as close as possible – to recreate the video for Wuthering Heights (1978) where Kate Bush danced on Salisbury Plain (Baden's Clump, near Sidbury Hill to be exact!). It is one of the most important moments in her career, and it is a rare occasion when fans get to come together and pay tribute to Kate Bush in this very special way:
“Returning for its sixth year, a huge celebration of Kentish icon Kate Bush, The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever (@mostwutheringheightsdayfolke), returns to Folkestone Harbour Arm on Sunday 26th of July for 2026.
Thousands of enthusiasts dressed in wigs and red playsuits, are set to head down to the town’s waterfront for an experience that is fast becoming one of the most recognised in the county.
Dancers of all abilities pay tribute to Kent-born (Bexleyheath) Kate Bush, with a mass choreographed performance to the soundtrack of the 1978 smash hit ‘Wuthering Heights’.
Some history… Started in 2013 by Brighton-based performance group Shambush, The Ultimate Kate Bush Experience was an attempt to set a world record of having the most people dressed as legendary musician Kate Bush in one location.
More than a decade on and the event has stretched across the world, with Kate Bush-themed events popping up in July across cities from Austin in Texas to Sydney in Australia, with many more (Berlin, Copenhagen, Dublin and Tel Aviv, to name but a few) between.
But one of the most successful has been one right here in Kent, down in Folkestone, who took to the Harbour Arm for the first time in 2018 with some trepidation. But with hundreds turning up to honour the star, a marker was set down and the attendance was doubled when it was recreated in 2019.
Having had a Covid hiatus, The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever returned on July 30th 2023 due to popular demand, and has continued to grow ever since.
Bush is said to have been inspired to write the famous song after watching the 1967 BBC adaptation of Emily Bronte’s 1847 Wuthering Heights novel, producing the lyrics from the perspective of heroine Catherine Earnshaw”.
I have never attended The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever and I have no dance ability. However, there is something very appealing about this moment of fun and fandom. Joining others in this congregation of love and fun! There are not that many moments or opportunities when fans can represent an artist like this. As I say, it is not cosplay or a drag act or anything like that. Instead, it is this unique event that continues to gather pace. Long may it reign! I do feel like there need to be more Kate Bush events where fans can assemble. It does not even have to be them dressing as Kate Bush. I have suggested before how there have not been conventions or anything huge for years. I pitch quite a few ideas relating to Bush’s work. Like an exhibition where we get to see her work and legacy brought to life through cutting-edge visuals, artefacts and memorabilia. However, she may not be on board with that. Kate Bush has always admired people that celebrate her work. Like when a Brisbane pub choir performed their rendition of Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) in 2022, Kate Bush sent an email saying how much she loved the rendition. With that song very much at they forefront and being covered, discussed and streamed, Bush cannot escape its legacy and importance. I am not sure what she feels about The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever, though you feel she would be very touched and honoured! I am considering going up to Folkestone in July and either witnessing the event or being involved. There is another event coming before then that grabbed my attention. A bit more intimate, there is this wonderful event at Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club which you can get tickets for. This incredible discotheque that coincides with the release of Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights (which is in cinemas from 13th February), it really sounds like a must-attend for any Kate Bush fans who live nearby:
“To celebrate the release of Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights”, Bethnal Green Working Men’s Club is throwing the ultimate Kate Bush party. Get running up that hill all the way to Bethnal Green and prepare to do the jig of life on the dancefloor to all of Kate’s best tracks, plus music from the likes of Tori Amos, Florence + The Machine, David Bowie, Eurythmics, and Fleetwood Mac.
Dressing up is absolutely encouraged and there will be smoke machines along with free Kate face masks and capes for a fully authentic atmosphere. There’ll also be Bush-offs throughout the night, where you can lip sync for your life to the Bush back catalogue. And it wouldn’t be a Wuthering Nights party without plenty of ‘Wuthering Heights’ – the iconic single will be spun on the hour, every hour, so get ready to sing along”.
I do love how there is this great Kate Bush event in London. I guess there will be similar things happening because of the Wuthering Heights film. The fact that it comes out the day before Valentine’s Day and it seems to be this rather racy and erotic take on the novel. It has gained some backlash, though it is a progressive and bold take from a brilliant filmmaker. I have been thinking about Valentine’s Day and dating/matchmaking based around Kate Bush. Not an event that would see people dressed as Kate Bush or losing yourself in the music, this would be a chance for those who are single or looking for a relationship to find like-minded people. It may sound quite niche, though you would be surprised how many people are together because they love similar music. It can be this very strong bond! This compatibility. Not even dating. Maybe a social event where Kate Bush songs can be played and fans get together and talk about her. Some focus on Kate Bush’s debut single and her work in 1978. Whereas Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) has dominated a lot of focus the past four years or so, this is a chance for us to go further back and mark other Kate Bush work. I like the idea of The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever and becoming Kate Bush. Also, a discotheque and night celebrating her where you can dress up. Not necessarily dressing in a red or white dress. It can be, I guess, any Kate Bush-themed or appropriate outfit. These great local events that many people might not know about. Chances to salute one of music’s most enduring, important and influential artists. I wanted to shine a light on them, though I will keep my eyes open for any similar that come along. It is about community, connection and joyfulness. The power of her music. Last year, The Sensual World: A Kate Bush Celebration for Cabaret vs Cancer took place at The Royal Vauxhall Tavern (“Money raised via ticket sales and a raffle on the night will go to supporting Cabaret vs Cancer, to help people affected by cancer. You can find out more about CvC at https://www.cabaretvscancer.co.uk/”). I do hope there is fundraising events like this later in the year. These different ways in which Kate Bush’s work can bring people together and also raise money. If you are able to get to any of these events then do so. A wonderful and enriching…
JIG of life.