Kate Bush up for two Q Awards

Singer Kate Bush has returned to the stage after not touring since 1979 and now she’s racking up award nominations too. See gallery

Kate Bush is up for a pair of prizes at the annual Q Awards on the strength of her stage return after 35 years.

Kasabian lead the nominations for the magazine’s prize bash after being shortlisted for four trophies while Arctic Monkeys are in the running for three when they are staged next month.

Kate – who has been performing a series of sell-out shows at the Hammersmith Apollo in London – competes for the titles of best act in the world today and best live act. She has previously been ineligible for the live title in the awards’ 25-year history because she had effectively retired from live performance after her only real tour in 1979.

Sam Smith, Paolo Nutini, Elbow, Damon Albarn and Arcade Fire have been shortlisted for two awards.

Kasabian’s haul of nominations includes best track for Eez-eh, best album for 48:13, best act and best live act. Arctic Monkeys are shortlisted for b est video for Arabella, best act and best live act.

Matt Mason, the senior editor of Q magazine, said: “It’s been a remarkable and fascinating 12 months for music, and these nominations are a measure of that. We’ve had the surprise and brilliance of Kate Bush’s return alongside the excitement and invention delivered by all the nominees in the best new act category.

“From the two-man blast of newcomers Royal Blood to headline performances from Kasabian, Arcade Fire and Arctic Monkeys, there have been constant reminders of rock’n’roll’s enduring power to knock our socks off. All the nominated acts have helped make 2014 a brilliant year.”

Just a few weeks ago Kate made a sensational return to the concert stage – 35 years after her last, and only, tour.

At 56, she may no longer be able to hit the high notes of her teenage years (which may explain the absence of hits such as Wuthering Heights and Babooshka) and she might have cut back on the dancing, but she still has the trademark long dark hair, and she still knows how to put on a show.