Kate Bush Reviews: 'Before The Dawn' Live Comeback Shows Hailed A 'Triumph' By Critics (And Fans) Alike (PICS) | HuffPost

'The Most Ambitious, Moving Piece Of Theatrical Pop Ever Seen On A British Stage'

The Huffington Post UK

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Kate Bush made a triumphant return to the stage on Tuesday night as she launched her 'Before The Dawn' series of London shows.

It was the first time the 56-year-old had stepped out on stage in 35 years, something she'll be doing another 21 times at the Hammersmith Apollo over the next few weeks.

READ MORE:
BLOG: Why Music Needs Kate Bush More Than Ever
SPOILERS: 10 Things You'll Only Know About The 'Before The Dawn' Live Shows If You Were There
PICS: Kate Bush's Brother Uncovers Rare Childhood Snaps Of Comeback Queen

Tickets for the highly anticipated shows - all 77,000 of them - sold out in 15 minutes, such was the demand from Kate's loyal following to finally see her perform in the flesh.

Kate Bush - 'Before The Dawn'

Kate Bush 'Before The Dawn'(01 of09)

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Kate Bush 'Before The Dawn'(02 of09)

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Kate Bush 'Before The Dawn'(03 of09)

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Kate Bush 'Before The Dawn'(04 of09)

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Kate Bush 'Before The Dawn'(05 of09)

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Kate Bush 'Before The Dawn'(06 of09)

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Kate Bush 'Before The Dawn'(07 of09)

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Kate Bush 'Before The Dawn'(08 of09)

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Kate Bush 'Before The Dawn'(09 of09)

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So what did the critics make of her long-awaited live comeback? Here's our review round-up…

The Telegraph (4/5)

"There was something touchingly gauche and bashful about her as she awkwardly twirled around the stage.Yet while her stage craft might have been creaky, her voice was an undiminished roar, surprisingly rich and powerful after such a long break."

The Guardian (5/5)

"For someone who's spent the vast majority of her career shunning the stage, she's a hugely engaging live performer, confident enough to shun the hits that made her famous in the first place: she plays nothing from her first four albums."

The Independent (5/5)

"Accompanied by music ranging from polyphonic choral harmonies to folksy minstrels, it’s quite stunning, undoubtedly the most ambitious, and genuinely moving, piece of theatrical pop ever seen on a British stage. Which is just what everyone here tonight was hoping for."

BBC

"Bush may not be the energetic 20-year-old who last performed on the same stage in 1979, but the 56-year-old singer has retained the power to entrance her audience. Among the cheers, some were moved to tears at this most unpredictable of comebacks."

"Though for this show there were relatively few costume changes her command of form was intense and delivery of content profound, transformations came time again, wondrous, uplifting and liberating. This was an astounding triumph in ways that must have surprised even her most devoted followers."

"Theatrical, sensual, emphatic, she made Running Up That Hill feel like running, Cloudbusting sound like the rain that lashed London yesterday, while Hounds of Love summoned the racket of dogs howling."

"Her music is still audacious and weird, but sometimes spellbindingly beautiful, too. Hers is a large-scale spectacle, vividly realised and unlike anything else in town."

Meanwhile, many of Kate's famous fans took to Twitter to deliver their verdict...

Kate Bush through the years

Investitures at Windsor Castle(01 of34)

Kate Bush receives her CBE from Queen Elizabeth II during an Investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle in Windsor. (credit:PA)

Investitures at Windsor Castle(02 of34)

Kate Bush receives her CBE from Queen Elizabeth II during an Investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle in Windsor. (credit:PA)

Kate Bush(03 of34)

File photo dated 29/10/01 of singer Kate Bus, as a obsessive fan of the singer flew over from New York to the UK with a £3,000 Tiffany engagement ring and broke into her country home, it was reported today. (credit:PA)

UK Q Awards(04 of34)

Singer Kate Bush receives the Classic Songwriter Award during The Q Awards 2001 at the Park Lane Hotel in London . (credit:PA)

Royal Music Day Reception - Buckingham Palace(05 of34)

Singer Kate Bush. (credit:PA)

PA NEWS PHOTO 10/3/78 KATE BUSH AT LONDON'S HEATHROW AIRPORT ON ARRIVAL FROM AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND...(06 of34)

PA NEWS PHOTO 10/3/78 KATE BUSH AT LONDON'S HEATHROW AIRPORT ON ARRIVAL FROM AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND (credit:PA)

Music - Kate Bush - 1979(07 of34)

British singer and song writer Kate Bush, pops up from the daffodils at the Inn-on-the-Park, London (credit:PA)

Kate Bush and Lenny Henry.(08 of34)

Spitting Image puppets of John McEnroe and Jefferey Archer flanked by Lenny Henry and Kate Bush at the launch of the comic relief book. (credit:PA)

Photo of Kate BUSH(09 of34)

UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 01: Photo of Kate BUSH; Portrait of Kate Bush (Photo by Phil Dent/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Kate Bush(10 of34)

Successful female vocalist Kate Bush, circa 1985. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Bush In A Bush(11 of34)

Successful female vocalist Kate Bush surrounded by leaves, circa 1985. (Photo by Anwar Hussein/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Kate Bush(12 of34)

Kate Bush, British Pop Singer. (Photo by Photoshot/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Kate Bush(13 of34)

English singer-songwriter and pop star Kate Bush, 1987. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Photo of Kate BUSH(14 of34)

UNITED KINGDOM - JANUARY 01: Photo of Kate BUSH; Kate Bush promoting The Dreaming (Photo by Peter Still/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Kate Bush adresses fans at the Kate Bush Convention in 1980(15 of34)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 10: Kate Bush makes a surprise appearance to meet her fans at The Kate Bush Convention in Leicester Square on May 10th, 1980 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Peter Still/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Kate Bush Performs On Stage(16 of34)

UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 01: Singer Kate Bush performs on stage in March 1980. (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Kate Bush Performs On Stage(17 of34)

UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 01: Singer Kate Bush performs on stage in March 1980. (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Photo of Kate BUSH(18 of34)

UNSPECIFIED - MARCH 01: Photo of Kate BUSH (Photo by David Redfern/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Photo of Kate BUSH(19 of34)

UNSPECIFIED - JANUARY 01: Photo of Kate BUSH (Photo by RB/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Bush, Kate(20 of34)

Kate Bush performing live in the late 1980's.; (Photo by Steve Rapport/Photoshot/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

Kate Bush(21 of34)

Kate Bush performs on stage at the London Symphony Orchestra's 75th Anniversary Celebration at The Royal Albert Hall, London, on 18th November 1979. (Photo by Gus Stewart/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Kate Bush(22 of34)

Kate Bush performs on stage at the London Symphony Orchestra's 75th Anniversary Celebration at The Royal Albert Hall, London, on 18th November 1979. (Photo by Gus Stewart/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Kate Bush Live At Hammersmith Odeon(23 of34)

LONDON - 12th MAY: English singer Kate Bush performs live on stage at Hammersmith Odeon in London on the penultimate date of her European tour on 12th May 1979. (Photo by Peter Still/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Kate Bush Live At Hammersmith Odeon(24 of34)

LONDON - 12th MAY: English singer Kate Bush performs live on stage at Hammersmith Odeon in London on the penultimate date of her European tour on 12th May 1979. (Photo by Peter Still/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Kate Bush Live At Hammersmith Odeon(25 of34)

LONDON - 12th MAY: English singer Kate Bush performs live on stage at Hammersmith Odeon in London on the penultimate date of her European tour on 12th May 1979. (Photo by Peter Still/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Kate Bush Live At Hammersmith Odeon(26 of34)

LONDON - 12th MAY: English singer Kate Bush performs live on stage at Hammersmith Odeon in London on the penultimate date of her European tour on 12th May 1979. (Photo by Peter Still/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Kate Bush Live At Hammersmith Odeon(27 of34)

LONDON - 12th MAY: English singer Kate Bush performs live on stage at Hammersmith Odeon in London on the penultimate date of her European tour on 12th May 1979. (Photo by Peter Still/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Kate Bush Performs Live In Amsterdam(28 of34)

AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND - APRIL 29: Kate Bush performs live on stage at The Carre Theatre, Amsterdam during her 'The Tour Of Life' tour on April 29 1979 (Photo by Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Photo of Kate BUSH(29 of34)

NETHERLANDS - APRIL 29: CARRE Photo of Kate BUSH, performing live onstage (Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Photo of Kate BUSH(30 of34)

NETHERLANDS - APRIL 29: CARRE Photo of Kate BUSH, performing live onstage, wearing leg-warmers (Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Photo of Kate BUSH(31 of34)

DENMARK - APRIL 26: Photo of Kate BUSH; Kate Bush, 1979 Copenhagen, Denmark (Photo by Jorgen Angel/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Photo of Kate BUSH(32 of34)

NETHERLANDS - APRIL 01: Photo of Kate BUSH; Kate Bush, CarrT Amsterdam '79 (Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Photo of Kate BUSH(33 of34)

NETHERLANDS - APRIL 01: Photo of Kate BUSH; Kate Bush, CarrT Amsterdam '79 (Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

Photo of Kate BUSH(34 of34)

NETHERLANDS - APRIL 01: Photo of Kate BUSH; Kate Bush, CarrT Amsterdam, 1979 (Photo by Rob Verhorst/Redferns) (credit:Getty Images)

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