Cloudbusting are an established tribute to the magnificent music of Kate Bush.
Named after the wondrous Hounds of Love era single, they keep folk coming back for more, as evidenced by this upcoming event continuing a decade’s worth of shows at Nottingham’s Rescue Rooms. A run only broken by Covid-19 and a seated audience of similarly overjoyed punters at The Playhouse a few years ago.
“Many of the older crowd like to sit down these days, and I can relate to that!” says talented lead singer Mandy Watson.
One recent reviewer on the band’s social media claimed that her voice “gave me physical goosebumps and had the hair standing up on the back of my neck” at a recent performance.
Mandy states that the East Midlands audiences are up there with her favourites, giving Cloudbusting a huge cheer before they’ve even played a note; such is the high esteem the band are held here.
This time, the tour is named The Line, The Cross and The Curve, after the 30th anniversary of a film Kate Bush was involved in in 1994, shortly after the hugely underrated (by her standards) Red Shoes album was released the year before.
Of course, all the classics will be played, such as Running Up That Hill (made famous again by the Stranger Things TV show – to which Mandy says “We have seen many younger fans coming along now, which will really help add to the energy at a great place like the Rescue Rooms”), Wuthering Heights and fan favourites like Army Dreamers.
But this event will give the band a chance to feature more of the aforementioned album’s work, with songs like the title track, Lily, Moments of Pleasure and the brilliant single Rubberband Girl at the forefront this time round.
Cloudbusting have been playing for over 12 years, “growing organically” says Mandy. Originally in the Cornwall and Plymouth area before performing all over the UK and Europe, building up a large following of delighted admirers.
Mandy wasn’t the original singer though, and her second ever gig saw her “being absolutely terrified” at a huge outdoor Pride event in Bristol centre.
Mandy has calmed down since that huge challenge and is now very at ease with large crowds, and is embraced by Kate’s fans telling of her love for her hero’s music throughout the set:
“I can see that the audience can relate by the smiles of acknowledgement on their faces when I talk about seeing Kate for the first time on Top of the Pops, as an 8 year old girl sat in front of the TV”.
Mandy now finds intimate sets more of a challenge, stripped down by Cloudbusting pianist Matt Bowers and bassist Dave Roberts as part of their side project The Kate Bush Songbook.
The remainder of Cloudbusting is made up of the skilful and subtle Chris Voysey on guitar and Adam Aggiss on drums. The team is completed by Rob Dixie on background visuals who, along with the band, attempts to stick closely to Kate Bush’s original lyrical intentions with some flattering and tasteful visuals.
Mandy laughs when I tell her that I won’t complain in June if she wants to feature the sexy Babooshka video in full, to which she jokes:
“Chris the guitarist dresses up in her costume for that one!”
Kate’s music is the most important thing here though, with Mandy’s excellent vocals and the faithful renditions of one of pop music’s most visionary artists, one who could impress and bring together the likes of prog’s Dave Gilmour and punk’s Johnny Rotten, in total agreement that she was a genius, on show for a great evening’s entertainment.
And although Mandy states that Cloudbusting sometimes use the freedom to flesh out the rare live versions that exist (Kate Bush only toured in 1979 and had a live residency at the Hammersmith Odeon in 2014), sticking to Kate’s original vision, and doing justice to songs that her faithful have adored for many decades, is the main thing.
The group have even performed with Kate’s original bassist and real-life former partner Del Palmer before he passed away earlier this year – so this massive seal of approval, and the fact that Cloudbusting have been doing this here in Nottingham again and again, proves how well they have achieved their original goal.
Roll on June 14th!
Preview by Richard Wilkinson-Smith
Cloudbusting perform at Nottingham’s Rescue Rooms on Friday June 14th – for tickets see www.rescuerooms.com/gigs/cloudbusting-rescue-rooms-nottingham-tickets-2024/
For a full list of their tour dates throughout May and June 2024 see www.katebushtribute.com. The Line The Cross and The Curve full movie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI4aLYHSbuQ Further reading on Del Palmer: https://pitchfork.com/news/del-palmer-longtime-kate-bush-collaborator-dies-at-71/
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