10 years since Before The Dawn
Ten years ago, on the 26th August, Kate Bush played the first of twenty two shows at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. The announcement of the residency on March 21st 2014 was treated as a bombshell as it was her first run of concerts since 1979.
The shows featured striking visuals, theatrical effects, and creative collaborations. The critical response was overwhelmingly positive, almost rapturous.
Cameras were not permitted and only around 100,000 people saw it, a relatively small number of Kate Bush fans. So, to celebrate the anniversary, in collaboration with Kate Bush News, we are asking members of that elite group to send us your memories.
We will share your memories online. You can send us a voice note (ideally 60 or less) by pressing the button below, or write us an email omniinfo@wisemusic.com.
Competition
By submitting your memory, you will be entered into a draw to win a signed copy of the new remastered paperback edition of Graeme Thomson's definitive Kate Bush biography Under the Ivy as well as a piece of confetti from the Before The Dawn shows.
You can also enter the competition by signing up to the Omnibus newsletter here.
The winner will be randomly selected. Competition closes at 11:59 on 2nd September 2024.
5 comments
I woke up at 5:00 AM New York time to try to get tickets.
I was concerned my old slow computer was going to fail me when I needed it the most.
I was able to get one ticket for one night…and then thought I’d try to get another ticket for another night.
And I was stunned that I miraculously did!!
In retrospect I’ve been kicking myself for not trying to get a ticket for a third or fourth or fifth show !
But I attended the 2 shows back to back and they were both on the evenings when the show was filmed !
I had a very good seat for the first evening.
But I had an even better closer seat for the second night.
I saw that in the row in front of me to my left there were five empty seats even as the show was beginning.
I didn’t at all think that someone decided not to attend…and I guessed that they must be for someone popular or famous. I assumed Elton John for some reason most likely his guest appearance on 50 Word for Snow.
And to my utter astonishment as the band and Kate were coming out in the line the lights went down and the door on the aisle to my right opened and I saw Nancy Shevell come out and in the next split second my brain said well that means that…..
And there was Paul McCartney and his wife and daughter Mary and her husband !!!
So now I had to regain my composure because I realized I would be watching Kate’s show with one of my heroes in all of music history.
I was quite relieved that he was not sitting directly in front of me!!!
As it is I had to regroup and make myself not watch Sir Paul watching Kate !!!!
It was beyond the cherry on top!!!
Kate’s show was and will forever be the most incredible live piece of music & theater that I have ever seen !
I am so thankful that I was able to be there !!
And if I run into Paul I will have a bone to pick with him about getting to his seat late for the show !!
Thank you,Kate!
I’ll never forget that trip and being there for your remarkable work!!!
It is still quite difficult for me to express all my thoughts and feelings regarding experiencing the Before the Dawn concert precisely 10 years ago on this day.
Travelling to London from the Netherlands as a lifelong admirer
of the music of Kate Bush I had been completely over the moon to obtain a seat at frontrow for the concert that 3th evening.
Seeing Kate (that close!) on stage for the first and probably only time in my life, being part of the most mesmerizing audience and being engulfed by this unforgettable and deeply moving concert has been etched in my soul forever.
Kate’s voice at first a little nervous, but a few songs in she sang with more power and conviction then I had thought possible.
The incredible KT Fellowship band brought the magical world of Kate Bush to great musical heights, truly supporting her and guiding the way through the complex and utterly beautiful stages.
All in all a mindblowing performance by everyone involved, and a very emotional encounter for me with the most extraordinary Kate Bush who’s music and art has given me so much meaning and pleasure over the last 40 years!
I was gutted I wasn’t able to go. A good friend of mine did and brought me back a souvenir programme and a couple of pieces of the confetti. Those and the beautiful vinyl box set have helped me through that difficult time ;)
My memory is crying at work because the tickets sold out too fast. But then I got the CD for Christmas and listened to it all with my eyes closed, imagining the atmosphere.
Opening night and was so close to the stage kept pinching myself! Took my 15 yr old daughter with me. She was amongst the first of the Gen Z generation to fall under Kate’s musical spell before ‘Stranger Things’ in 2022. Also had a chance to say hello to the late Del Palmer and Kate’s nephew Raven who said he was very proud of Kate. An amazing unforgettable evening.