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Rewind Festival: If it was acceptable in the 80s, it’s definitely still acceptable today

Rewind Festival is the definite 80s festival on the UK circuit, offering revelers the prospect to travel back in time to experience their favourite artists of what was a truly massive decade in music. The festival takes place at three separate locations to choose from, each with its own unique lineup of 80s music legends. The first sees Rewind take to Scotland at Scone Palace in Perth from July 22nd - 24th, while Rewind North comes to Capesthorne, Chester on August 5th - 7th and Rewind South takes over Temple Island Meadows in Henley-on-Thames from August 19th -21st. Whether your motivation is driven by nostalgia to hark back to your youth filled days in the 1980s, or you were simply too young to have experienced the 80s in person, Rewind offers the perfect opportunity to take a trip back to the 80s.

Lineup and Things to do

The 80s was an era synonymous with Thatcher’s regime, miners’ strikes, that infamous Maradona ‘Hand of God’ moment, but what really helped shape the decade was music and how it often offered the ultimate escapism. Genres such as new wave and synth-pop offered a new dimension to the music scene, and these are amongst the styles on offer at Rewind. For many younger readers, they may recognise Rewind artists from appearing on recent TV shows as ‘Come Dine With Me’ or ‘I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here’ (Pat Sharp and Tony Hadley we’re looking at you), but thankfully these people found fame for much stronger reasons. For instance, Tony Hadley, who will be appearing at Rewind Scotland and South rose to fame from being the lead singer of Spandau Ballet. Acts to be performing across the weekend include Leo Sayer (Scotland and South), Midge Ure and Go West (both Scotland and North), Fine Young Cannibal’s Roland Gift and Toyah (also both Scotland and South), as well as Earth, Wind & Fire (North and South). Several artists however will be performing at just one of the locations. Up in Perth, there will be performances from Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s Holly Johnson and Average White Band on the Saturday, as well as ABC and Big Country on the Sunday. Rewind North meanwhile adds Jason Donovan, Paul Carrack, Hazel O’Connor, Joy Division’s Peter Hook and UB40 to the lineup. Down in Henley-on-Thames there will be exclusive sets from Erasure’s Andy Bell and Hazell Dean on the Saturday, with M People’s Heather Small, The Beat and Blockhead all taking to the stage on the Sunday. The aforementioned artists will be joined at all three events by a selection of 80s megastars, including Rick Astley, Adam Ant, Soft Cell’s Marc Almond and The Lotus Eaters.

At each location the main acts play on the Saturday and Sunday, but Friday is set to offer an opportunity to get things kicked off in style. Rewind Scotland and North will be playing host to former Radio 1 DJ and presenter of Fun House, Pat Sharp, who brings his School Disco to the Big Top where he shall be DJing. Down at Rewind South, The Wurtzel’s will bring some Western fun to proceedings on the Friday at The Riverside Stage. Throughout the weekend at all three will be a Silent Disco, fairground attractions, gin and cocktail bars and of course fireworks on the Saturday and Sunday nights. In addition to all of this The Inflatable Church will be conducting their own faux festival wedding ceremonies, while North and South will feature the New York Brass Band who play anything from Marvin Gaye to Cee-lo Green.

Travel

Rewind Festival offers free on-site parking at all three locations. The Scottish event will have coaches running courtesy of Happy Bus from various locations in Scotland, while you could alternatively get the train to Perth and then take a shuttle bus journey for the 3 miles to Scone Palace, courtesy of Stagecoach. Rewind North is located 5 miles west of Macclesfield on the A34, where the closest train station is located. As for Rewind South, the nearest train station is Henley-on-Thames, which is just 1.5 miles from the festival site, while there are buses running to Henley-on-Thames from the likes of Reading, High Wycombe and Maidenhead.

Essential Information

Ticket prices are the same for all three versions of the festival, with adult weekend tickets costing £125 (including camping) and £107.50 without camping. Day tickets are also available for the Saturday and Sunday which are priced at £59.50. Camping opens early on the friday afternoon and allows revelers to stay until midday on monday. Rewind prides itself on creating a child friendly atmosphere and therefore offers family camping options, as well as special activities for the kids.  

For more info on this fabulous Summer event, click here.

 

Christopher Gill