Kate writes on her official site:
We want to say a special thank you to Barney who is sadly leaving us to go on to a very exciting new job. He has put so much incredible work into both the projects this year. Good luck Barney, we’ll miss you.
With love and best wishes,
Kate and everyone on the team
So close to Christmas now and we’ve been busy getting ready – so a few 50 Words For Snow news items have been piling up that we need to tell you about. We’ll have a full round-up of the many mentions of Kate’s 2011 albums (feels so amazing to be able to type that) in year-end polls very soon. Firstly massive thanks to Brian Cloughley for yet-another seasonal banner for the site – thanks Brian! Kate did an Italian radio interview on Radio Monte Carlo on the 19th December. You can hear the interview below (many thanks to Isabelle, Louise and Tom). Look out for a new interview with Kate on Seattle radio station KEXP soon – conducted by Kurt B Reighley. Kurt has tweeted: “3 hours later and STILL a bundle of nerves from 2day’s interview w Kate Bush… she laughs a lot and has a lovely sense of humor.”
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/31183613″]
See a clip below from “The Jo Whiley Music Show” on Sky Arts 1 on 16th December. The show featured a piece about the new album, as well as a discussion from Annie Lennox, Tim Minchin and Aloe Blacc. Also at the end of the Youtube clip below you’ll see mention of Kate’s album on the BBC 2 Review Show, also from 16th December in that programme’s review of the year.
[youtube width=”640″ height=”480″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6YIB5CJGd0[/youtube]
Another interview with Kate has appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald in Australia here. Anti- Records, Kate’s new US label has been promoting the album with the following video package of review quotes:
[youtube width=”640″ height=”360″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jwuIGrtzFQ[/youtube]
From the reaction we’ve had (and very many thanks for that!) to issue 79, the final print issue of HomeGround magazine, some readers may want to make up missing issues in their HomeGround collection.
The best place to get back issues of HomeGround magazine is from HomeGround! Don’t pay inflated prices when issues turn up for auction on eBay!
We’ve now done the most exhaustive stock check we’ve done for some considerable while (in the far reaches of the attic at HomeGround Towers) and we’ve set out some back issue offers on the HomeGround page HERE.
The easiest way to place an order for backnumbers is to use the PayPal back issue buttons on the HomeGround page where you can pay by PayPal or by credit or debit card.
The HomeGround page also has details of back issue contents, so when you’ve made your payment, email us to let us know which issues you would like.
Update: Part two of the Mark Radcliffe interview with Kate aired today, Tuesday 13th Dec – listen again here (1 hour 33 mins into the iPlayer stream)
The first part of Mark Radcliffe‘s new interview on BBC Radio 6Music with Kate is being broadcast today. The show runs from 1pm-4pm, and we hear that the interviews usually are aired about 2.3opm, but do check the live stream. Part 2 of the interview will be aired tomorrow at the same time. Catch today’s show here.
KATE BUSH NEWS site exclusive: The Clarendon Fine Art Gallery is offering this oil painting by Rolf Harris. It is based on Rolf’s as-yet-unreleased recorded version of ‘She Moves Through The Fair‘ with Kate. The painting depicts a man and a woman – the two main characters in the song. The gallery is letting Kate Bush fans know about this piece first, due to its uniqueness and connection with Rolf’s work with Kate. It is not going to be made available as a print.
Oil on Canvas – 16” x 12”
All sales enquiries to Daniel Tills: danieltills@clarendonfineart.
Clarendon Fine Art
46 Dover Street
Mayfair
London W1S 4FF
020 7499 0947
www.clarendonfineart.com
Born in Perth, Western Australia, Rolf moved to London at the age of twenty-two, financing himself through exhibitions of his work held in Australia. He enrolled at the City & Guilds Art School in London intending to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and become a portrait painter. After a chance meeting with the Australian impressionist painter ‘Bill’ Hayward Veal, however, he began attending an art course run by Veal and soon became his protégé.
In the mid 1950’s Rolf’s paintings were featured in the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy for two years running. While painting continued to be a private passion of his, it was for his television and stage performances that Rolf became a household name. In recent years however he has devoted more time to painting and has had a number of one-man shows, including the ‘Rolf on Art’ exhibition at the National Gallery.
Rolf’s BBC television series ‘Rolf on Art’ achieved the highest TV ratings ever for a UK arts programme. Rolf hosted television’s biggest ever arts event with a live BBC special titled ‘Rolf on Art: The Big Event’ in which he joined the public in recreating a large-scale version of Constable’s ‘Haywain’ in Trafalgar Square. The massive event was such a huge success that the BBC staged two further ‘Rolf on Art: The Big Event’ specials in Edinburgh and London.
Rolf has been awarded the CBE, is a member of the Order of Australia and an honorary member of the Royal Society of British Artists, and has won many awards for his work in the entertainment industry. His portrait of Her Majesty The Queen, commissioned by the BBC to celebrate her 80th birthday, was the subject of a BBC1 programme ‘The Queen, by Rolf’ screened on New Year’s Day 2006. Rolf’s achievements over 65 years in art were celebrated with a touring exhibition and hardback retrospective book entitled ‘A Life in Art’ in 2010. His life and work were further celebrated in a major BBC ‘Arena’ documentary entitled ‘Rolf Harris Paints his Dream’.
Rolf was named as the UK’s best selling published artist of 2011.
Artist Danny Allison writes at Creative Match: “This illustration was a commison for Prog Rock magazine for an illustration to accompany an album review for Kate Bush’s new album 50 Words For Snow” This illustration appears in the current edition of the magazine. More of Danny’s work at his site here. (thanks Louise)
So sorry we’re late with this one! From the organiser’s Facebook event page: “In honor of the release of Kate Bush’s first wholly new full-length album since 2005, “50 Words For Snow,” we are paying tribute to the legendary songstress extraordinaire once again. Parlour on Clark will play host to a coalition of Bush-phile DJs — DJ Joshua, DJ Belazauberin and DJ Josie Bush — spinning a selection of music and videos by Bush herself and the many other artists, new and old, who have been influenced by the innovating musician’s sprawling catalog. The event will serve as a fundraiser for TGIF (Trans, Genderqueer, Intersex Freedom) Pride. Attendees are invited to offer up a $5 suggested donation to help make the first-ever event happen and Bush-themed treats will also be available for purchase. All proceeds from both the door charge and the “50 Words” bake sale will benefit TGIF. Finally, we heard a rumor that several copies — both CDs and on vinyl — of “50 Words” will be up for grabs at the event. Don’t miss this!” (many thanks to Joe Erbentraut and again sorry we missed this before now!) This event may come just in time for some snow in Chicago!
The Guardian writes: “Write for us about: Kate Bush. As her latest album rides high in many end-of-year polls, we want to know what you consider to be the singer’s best work”
See here to get your review published in the Guardian.
Three new interviews to listen out for: This evening Kate’s interview with Jamie Cullum was finally played on BBC Radio 2. This was a different interview segment from the one with Jamie that was broadcast on Dutch Radio last month (52 minutes long – listen here). This evening’s interview is a 20 minute segment. From the BBC website: “Jamie conducts a rare interview with Kate Bush, as the British singer-songwriter, musician and record producer talks about the jazz she loves. Kate also tells the story behind Misty, a track on her new album 50 Words For Snow. The two musicians discuss the complex time signatures within Misty and compare them to Take Five by Dave Brubeck, before chatting about their different approaches to composition, and their mutual love of Billie Holliday and Steely Dan.” Listen again to the new interview segment here. (outside the UK? listen here.)
On this coming Thursday 8th December, Kate does an American radio interview with Larry Flick on Sirius XM OutQ Radio, 12pm-4pm UK/Ireland Time (7am Eastern Time USA/GMT-5 hours.) You can listen live here (note that this radio station requires a free signup for 7 day trial, which just needs an email address).
A new interview with Kate to promote the new album has appeared in Gaffa Magazine in Denmark, see here and here (translation here and here). A second interview doesn’t feature Kate – rather it’s an interview with the presenter of Bios Bahnhof, the German show where Kate made her first ever TV appearance (see clip below!). Interview here, translation here. (thanks Louise)
[youtube width=”640″ height=”360″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntyvD0tqeFM[/youtube]
Issue 79 of HomeGround – The Kate Bush Magazine is going to print this coming weekend. From Homeground: “This is the final printed magazine but HomeGround will continue via the website. Please pre-order your magazine no later than 2nd December – this is essential so that we order enough copies from our printer. The magazine is looking lovely, it is almost finished. We hope you will enjoy it.” Don’t miss the final print edition of this extraordinary magazine – going strong since 1982. It will of course bring you news and reviews of 50 Words For Snow and Director’s Cut.
UK – order Issue 79 – £6.50
Europe – order Issue 79 – £7.50
North America and elsewhere – order Issue 79 – £8.50
From Kate’s official site this evening:
From Kate… I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has embraced ’50 Words For Snow’ with such warmth and positivity. I am totally blown away by the response to the album and am so delighted with the chart position of No 5 today. Hooray!
Thanks to everyone who has contributed: Del Palmer for all his really great work throughout the recording process and his input during the mixing. To Stephen Tayler for his invaluable work on the mixes and to Stanley Gabriel who assisted us. To all the wonderful musicians especially Steve Gadd for the incredible feel he has brought to the whole piece, to Danny for his beautiful guitars, to dearest Bertie for his fantastic performance and for all his enthusiasm, to Jonathan Tunick for his gorgeous orchestrations and to John Giblin, Danny Thompson and all the guests who have brought their special energies into the music. To everyone on the team who have done such a terrific job and most of all to all of you who take it into your homes and your hearts and make me feel so privileged to have my work received with such love.
Many thanks,
Kate x
We can confirm that 50 Words For Snow has charted in the UK official album charts at no 5, as announced on BBC Radio 1, this is Kate’s 10th top 5 album, out of 11 releases.
As long time HomeGround reader Paul Thomas has pointed out, “this makes her the only female artist to have top 5 albums across 5 decades..70s, 80s, 90s, 00s and this new decade (whatever this decade is called..) – I am very proud to be a fan and so pleased she is still makimg exceptional music – and she hasn’t done any tv to promote the album; the record sales are down to her loyal fanbase and her reputation as the best and most original female artist of all time..shall I stop banging on about her now??“
Big congratulations to Kate, Del and everyone else involved.
Dave, Krys, Peter and Seán. xxxx
UPDATE: We hear that 50 Words has entered the German charts at #7, Netherlands Album chart at no. 10, and the Norweigen album chart at no. 18, Ireland at no.12, Belgium at no.27, Australia at no. 22 and Finland at no. 11. The album has entered the Billboard charts in the US at number 83 (and a number 7 entry in the US Independent album chart). More as we get them.
8.5/10 from Ben at the sumptuously named Intercostal Clavicle:
“It is a calmer, more intimate album than we have come to expect. Of course, intimate moments abound on Kate Bush’s earlier records, but here the dominant sound is piano with fewer embellishments than usual. The layered, spacious soundscapes are absent. This is to be listened to holed up indoors away from winter storms, chilling and warming by turns. The songs are all built around the concept of snow and the music softly echoes its magical fragility. We are never trapped Under Ice … Her voice is captivating, the production lush and meticulous, but I relish most the elements of play and surprise. The ideas are fully formed, the characters speaking as clearly as her Cathy in Wuthering Heights, but we are never sure what will happen next … In 50 Words for Snow, Kate Bush has produced hushed music which gleams in an icy hinterland. Like snow, it invites and unnerves, giving its gift quietly. I am enthralled by a musical vision which has yet to waver or disappoint. How lucky we are.”
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