REWIND, the world’s biggest 80’s festival arrives at Bla Bla from the UK. We head down on Saturday afternoon to be dazzled by days gone by with entertainment across the entire Bla Bla venue in addition to the main stage which takes over the Beach Club for the day.
We’re expecting a line-up of musical legends including headline acts Tony Hadley, Heather Small, Go West and T’pau.
Afternoon
We arrive mid afternoon and it’s already warm for the beginning of March. We’re lucky enough to gather some spare chairs up at the back (beach side) overlooking Bluewaters Island and, drinks in hand, settle in for the line up.
It starts at 4pm with T’Pau, the English pop group that formed in 1986 (is it really that long?) and led by singer Carol Decker. They had a string of Top 40 hits in the UK during the late 1980s and early 1990s although my memories of listening to the likes of China In Your Hand and Heart and Soul are closer to 1992, the year they disbanded.
Next is Altered Images and I think their early ’80’s hits are just a bit before my time for me to really remember them. Some of the lyrics for Bring Me Closer and Don’t Talk To Me About Love are vaguely familiar, the familiar pop genre hits all the right notes though.
It’s pretty busy and I understand that the tickets are sold out. It certainly gets busier and after the first couple of hours (and couple of glasses of prosecco), there is standing room only in front of the main stage.
Nick Hayward is up next, another primarily early ’80’s artist who debuted with the band Haircut One Hundred but is much better known as a solo artist. His best known early solo hits are Whistle Down the Wind and Blue Hat for a Blue Day. I’ll admit that I only recognise him from his more recent works.
Evening
Around 6:30pm we head over to the main area to order some food. Go West are on the stage and King of Wishful Thinking comes on. Now we’re talking! Although this pop due heralds from the early ’80’s, King of Wishful Thinking is remembered fondly. Anyone who was old enough to listen to the radio in 1990 remembers this hit from Pretty Woman playing over and over. It’s an absolute favorite (along with the rest of the Pretty Woman soundtrack) and I can’t help myself but sing along. I’m certainly not alone. Faithful and We Close Our Eyes are close behind.
After something to eat and another trip to the bar, it’s Heaven 17’s turn on the main stage. I wasn’t really in to the new wave synth-pop sound at the time. Tonight, however, I’m enjoying the likes of Temptation and Come Live With Me more tonight.
Night
Finally! Heather Small is on. With her M People classics Movin’ on Up, One Night In Heaven and Sight for Sore Eyes, she is properly lighting up the audience. Whether it is her soul singer vocals or the fact that she continued into the 1990’s and 2000’s with Perfect Day and then the release of Proud doesn’t really matter. Her Search for the Hero nearly bring me to tears. She’s still got it. The voice, the moves and the vibe. It’s still relatively early but Heather is the highlight of my night!
A bit later on, Marc Almond still manages to belt out Tainted Love. Unfortunately his 80’s sheen seems to have dulled somewhat and the rest of the performance is mediocre at best.
By now we have been here for about 6 hours and we’re still waiting for Tony Hadley. When he does come on stage, he performs To Cut a Long Story Short, Lifeline, True and the finale, Gold!
By now, after a good but long afternoon, we’re really feeling our age. So, with a renewed girl crush on Heather Small and 80’s beats fresh in my mind, we head off. There aren’t any taxis available from JBR so we walk most of the way seeking not an after party but bed.
On reflection, perhaps I’m just too young for the music and too old for the format!
Good To Know
Rewind is an 80’s and 90’s music festival. It originates in the UK and Scotland and is generally held over a weekend in the UK’s summer months. I’m a bit jealous that the UK’s line up includes UB40 this year.
Would I Return?
No. Not to the 80’s. Perhaps if I was more familiar with the line up or there were more songs that I wanted to hear.