Originally published by L.S. Media. April 13th 2012.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Above all else, Kate Bush’s music has endured beyond recognised boundaries as she releases albums that not only stand the test of time over and over again but also have sold phenomenally without any assistance that touring would bring.

There may have been the odd one or two in the audience, hardly believing their luck, that would have been in the audience the only time Kate Bush actually played in Liverpool and they would have been the only ones to be there over 30 years later from that date to hear the sensational talent of Maaike Breijman go through two sets of the most sensual, inspiring and classic music from one of the queens of British popular music.

To witness Maaike on stage, alongside the accomplished musicians on stage, including the great Barney Taylor, Bryan Cummins and Paul Tsanos and two outstanding male dancers, Kenny Ho and Chris Scott, was to fall in love with her.

There are not many women who would willingly go through so many costume changes in the name of music but as soon as Maaike came out on stage for the opening numbers of Moving, James and the Cold Gun and the haunting Babooshka, the audience knew they were in for a night that went beyond the expected and usual night out and into the realms of performance high art.

One of the highlights of the show was the moment when Maaike preformed an astonishing version of Peter Gabriel’s Don’t Give Up. The energy on stage as the song went back on forth between the two singers on stage was electric and in stark contrast to closeness of the original acclaimed video.

The second act of the show was just as impressive with tracks such as This Woman’s Work, the incredible Running Up That Hill, Cloudbusting and the sensational Wuthering Heights all making their way into the show.

This was so much more than a gig or even a celebration of music created by one of the most endearing song writers of her generation. With Maaike Breijman at the forefront of the Liverpool Philharmonic stage and surrounded by incredibly talented musicians and the creative technical ability of the two dancers, it became a show of importance, a moment in time that captured the essence of the music and left the audience stunned by the spectacle and roaring with their approval at the end of an exciting evening.

Ian D. Hall