Rewind Festival – 29 to 31 July at Scone Palace near Perth
Rewind is as much about memories as it is about being just a festival. This celebration of the 80s brings together acts from the length and breadth of the decade. All 25 acts are on a packed main stage over two days. In a series of articles on the festival we will look at both days and get an interview or two with some of the acts let’s start with Saturday’s highlights:
Hazel O’Connor – I still remember buying “Eighth Day” with my first pay from my paper round! Probably the first major female star of the 80’s, she rose to fame in 1980 starring in the film Breaking Glass which spawned the above single and “Will You” (yes, the one with that haunting saxophone solo). Her second album, Sons and Lovers spawned the hit “D-Days”. Numerous albums later, Hazel continues to tour extensively with her own solo projects.
Rick Astley – Rick means a lot to many, not just aficionados of the 80s. “Rickrolling” antics swept the internet in the noughties. He is as popular as ever, he’s recently toured with Peter Kay and worked as a DJ on Magic FM. However, Rick is best known from the golden days of the eighties when he was hand picked by legendary producers Stock, Aitken and Waterman. Rick went from obscurity in Warrington to chart stardom when his debut single “Never Gonna Give You Up” went to the top of the charts in the summer of ’87 and a string of hits followed.
ABC – Fronted by the dapper Martin Fry, their debut album “The Lexicon of Love” crashed straight into the charts at number one, showcasing a string of hits including “The Look of Love”, “Tears Are Not Enough” and “Poison Arrow”. ABC were never a band to rest on their laurels, and each subsequent album saw a reinvention of their sound. The edgier “Beauty Stab” saw the release of “That Was Then But This is Now”, this in turn lead to the dance and synth led “How to be a…..Zillionaire!”. The follow-up “Alphabet City” leaned more towards their first album but tinged with Motown. One thing that will hold true is that Martin Fry will be one to watch out for on the Friday.
T’Pau – One for the Trekkies! Yes, named after a Vulcan Priestess in the original Star Trek series, T’Pau burst onto the music scene in 1987 with “Heart and Soul”, but to be a little different enjoying success first in the US and then the UK before releasing the classic “China In Your Hand” which stayed at no. 1 in the UK for five weeks. With her mass of red hair, soulful voice and commanding stage presence Carol Decker continues to “rock out” T’pau’s greatest hits. Expect an interview with Carol Decker on the site very soon with Carol talking all things T’Pau and Rewind!
Hue and Cry – Scotland’s very own Pat and Greg Kane. The Kane brothers first made their mark with the albums “Seduced and Abandoned” and ‘Remote’, spawning the smash hit singles “Labour of Love”, ‘Violently’, and “Looking for Linda”. Over the years they have performed alongside some of the biggest names in the business including U2 and Madonna and have played to thousands on their own headline tours too. Their award- winning style of strongly written pop songs fused with a unique brand of soul means the band are relishing the opportunity to engage with fans, new and old. If you remember them playing Sounds of Eden at our very own Eden Court back in 1989 then this will bring back memories!
Add another 8 main stage acts to that and you’ve only just got through Saturday!
A preview of Sunday will be on its way shortly…
by Frankie Boy
Rewind Festival – 29 to 31 July at Scone Palace near Perth
Tickets available here (follow the links)
