Live Review

80’s Rewind Festival (Day 1) – Henley on Thames

• 24th Aug 2009

We stepped back in time a couple of decades a sunny bright weekend down in Henley-On-Thames for the 80’s Rewind festival. Two glorious days of nothing but some of the best acts who made their mark on the world over 20 years ago with music that has lasted and endured.

The 80’s is perhaps the hardest of all the eras of music to defend in modern day, particularly the pop 80’s. The word “cheese” is usually the first that escapes most peoples’ lips, and yet there is still a need to have it around us when we are all out having a good time. Artistically though you’d be surprised at how many well written tracks there are out there. The music itself is also noteworthy purely for the ability to be something instantly recognisable.

What the Here and Now organisers have managed here would have been quite impossible back in the day. 12 well known acts on each day have turned up. 20 years ago there would probably have been the odd ego to try to shift around as bands battle for the hot spots on the bill. But here, although each day has a headlining act, there are not really any supporting acts. It is all 80’s icons from start to end!

The site itself catered for around the 20,000 number. There was the usual Fun Fair, Stalls, Food and drink available. For evening entertainment there is the added bonus of the Silent Disco and comedy tent. What is especially nice about this site – despite it being set in a beautiful location, is the crowd themselves. You don’t see the groups of lazy lads weeing along the fence lines, you don’t see people screaming and swearing at each other, You don’t see people being sick from being far too drunk. What you do see though is a high variety in ages. It’s very much a family festival for adults young and old to come with their families to share some very easy times. Naturally the potty mouth on stage is kept to a minimum. Even if on the Sunday the Blockheads did insist on sing about a bit of Sex, Drugs & Rock N’ Roll.

Looking at Saturday for now though; the stage itself opens up at 2pm with Toyah taking to the stage to a warm welcome from the crowd and the blistering sun overhead. She isn’t up there for too long but she has made the hard start that others must now follow.

China Crisis come on dressed down for their spot and whilst they put in an affable effort, the crowd are still waiting for something to really get them going. Crisis aren’t the right band for that as their set is a very sedate one. Perhaps more of the Sunday afternoon kind of easy listening. It’s a nice relaxing feel, but energy is starting to run high. Next up come The Real Thing who a few people in the VIP area even had trouble placing, but it only takes a song or two for people to throw there heads back in explanation of having just remembered.

The first act on to truly get the people going comes in the form of Billy Ocean. A man who can’t seem to stop smiling and showing off his pearly whites. Dressed to impressed, with his designer white dreadlocks the man handles his half hour with unbelievable ease. The crowd this weekend aren’t the strongest singers themselves but they have no trouble following the words to “Caribbean Queen”, “Get Outta My Dreams” and “When the Going Gets Tough” among others. Most of the performers seem happy to perform their hits only and it is nice not to have to listen to a band try to promote new material. Ocean finishes to a very satisfied audience and goes back out to meet a few avid fans and very generously poses for many a camera shot.

Cutting Crew do a smaller set and as time seems to be stretching out between acts you wonder if they are going to fit everyone on in time. That is swiftly answered when the breaks between acts all but disappear. Dr and the Medics are one of the most surprising performances as they only get two songs. But oh boy do they make the most of their time on stage. “Spirit in the Sky” gives that hard edge of rock that the day was needing.

It’s been nice listening to the pop classics, but to be stunned and woken by the sheer energy of the Dr himself was what was needed. And with that he and his crazy cohorts are off stage again!
Kid Creole and the Coconuts made for a funky diversion, and the kid himself proves to be very entertaining – even at one point introducing his much younger backing vocalists, and even referring to one of them quite humorously as a bitch. Not dropping the ball, Heaven 17 come to the stage in style and deliver a loud and bold set. This is obviously going to culminate with their biggest number “Temptation” which of course the band had fun singing with the audience.

Then there are the first major problems with the stage. Belinda Carlisle comes on looking very much the age she is at, and as there is some technical issue she asks the crowd if she should go and come back. The crowd of course want her to stay, but she goes anyway, looking very uncomfortable holding the ball by herself. A short while later issues are ironed out and she returns to the stage and puts in a decent effort. Age seems to have helped her singing voice. Back in the 80’s you’d swear she patted her chest hard whilst recording her tracks, here though he voice has taken on a mature tone and actually aides her performance. If she was ever thinking of doing a rock album now is the time!

Bananarama have similar issues with microphones when they come on and even have to start over one song. Despite the odd frown look from the two singers they troop on for the crowd. The vocal work does indeed vary in quality but this may be down to the fact that they can’t seem to hold still for very long and are forever walking up and down the stage. The lights on stage are in full effect so they look good and they cover the likes of “Venus” “Robert De Niro’s Waitng” and finish with “NaNaNaNa” and we all indeed wave goodbye.

Rick Astley is dressed very smart looking very much the part when he comes on. He’s very polite and engaging with the crowd. never shy to try to get people to sing along in time with him, never without a sense of humour to attack them when they aren’t loud enough. Although we all know “Never Gonna Give You Up” will be his crescendo, he powers through strong set of his hits demonstrating that his voice is still strong and impressive. It’s his business why he called it all time out back then, but he is here now and still has the crowds on his side. He finishes and sends his best to the crowd and people seem more than satisfied with what they have seen today, but there is one more to go.

Last but not least as they say came Kim Wilde. She came and changed the way we feel. Corseted in black and with a sizable band to back her up. The stage is very much alight for this first day finale. She seems to have musicians of all ages, and even her own young and beautiful niece as her backing singer (Might have to watch out for this one as she had a lot of stage presence herself! – But may have had a slight accident afterwards as she was hobbling about the following day).
Wilde even got daring by doing a heavy cover version of Depeche Mode’s Enjoy the Silence. Depeche Mode fans who are fed up of people covering the band’s material may not have liked this, but fans of recognisable tracks would have lapped it up.

She finishes on a high and brings to an end what has been for the most part a successful first day. There is more to come the day after though and even hotter weather. We won’t mention the queues for the showers.