In 2019 Kate Bush fanatics traveled to Greenfield from across the Northeast to celebrate her work at The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever; it will happen once again this Saturday at Energy Park.
“It is a nice time to connect with others all in the spirit of awesomeness and Kate Bush,” Désirée Lowit, one of the organizers of the event, said.
Bush is a British singer-songwriter who rose to prominence in the late 1970s. In 1978 at the age of 18, Bush released her debut single, “Wuthering Heights,” and became the first female artist in the UK to reach number one on the charts with an original song. She released an iconic video of her dancing to the song wearing all red.
This event, along with other events across the world, will celebrate this song with a hundred or more people reenacting her dance and dressed like Bush in the video.
The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever was started in 2013 by the group Shambush in Brighton UK where they attempted to break the world record for the most people dressed as Bush in one place. Since 2013, the event has expanded across the world. This year there are around 45 official endorsed events happening throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East and North America.
The dancing will commence at Energy Park at 5:30 p.m. Organizers will take an hour teaching and practicing the dance. At 6:45 p.m. the real performance will begin.
“No one has to know the dance. It is just in the spirit of Kate Bush, wearing red and dancing,” Lowit explained.
The dance is no easy feat, being mostly flowing arm motions. Vanessa Brewster, another organizer of the event, named each dance move with descriptions or lyrics to be able to memorize each movement from the video.
Attendance will cost a suggested $5. This will cover the price to reserve Energy Park for the event, all extra money raised will be donated to Planned Parenthood.
Looky Here, a gallery space down the block from Energy Park, is sponsoring the the day. 10Forward, a dance club also in the area, will host an after party.
10Forward will play the documentary “The Kate Bush Factor,” and Loculus Dance Collective will perform a dance at the after party. This will be followed by acts from touring bands and djs. There will be no cover charge for people in costume.
In 2019 people from New York and Boston traveled to the Greenfield event because it was the only one held in the Northeast, according to 10Forward owner Sarah Lancillotta. This year the closest event is in Philadelphia, so travelers are expected to come this time as well.
Bush has risen in popularity due to her song “Running Up That Hill” being played in the new season of Netflix’s popular show “Stranger Things.” The song then trended on TikTok and began a resurgence of interest in her music. This new found interest will certainly have an effect on the number of people who will dance this year.
Lowit explained she listened to “Wuthering Heights” on repeat while dealing with a break up, creating a new meaning and love for Bush and the song. Everyone has a different association with the 1978 hit, but they will all rejoice together in dance this Saturday.
Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com