It’s time to dig out your fluorescent leg warmers for the retro music event of the year.
Come July 22-24, the normally tranquil grounds of Scone Palace will once again be rocking to the soundtrack of iconic 80s hits as Rewind Scotland returns for 2016.
As with previous Rewind festivals at Scone Palace, this year’s extravaganza is guaranteed to raise the roof (if there was one) with the crme de la crme of classic ‘80s pop music including headline performances from Holly Johnson (Relax, Two Tribes) and Adam Ant (Stand and Deliver, Prince Charming).
And as always, the celebrations will showcase non-stop music on the main stage from the biggest ‘80s icons, plus plenty of audience participation and lots of nostalgic dressing up.
The festival includes a star-studded 80s line-up featuring Rick Astley, ABC, Tony Hadley, Marc Almond, Go West, Roland Gift, China Crisis, Toyah, The Beat, Annabella’s Bow Wow Wow, plus many more big names, including legendary Scottish artists Midge Ure (Live Aid, Ultravox), The Bluebells and Average White Band. Meanwhile, Living In A Box, Leo Sayer, Snap, and Slim Jim Phantom From Stray Cats are making their Rewind Scotland debuts.
One of the biggest highlights at this year’s festival is the Rewind Scotland debut of the British Electric Foundation (BEF), the brainchild of Heaven 17’s Martyn Ware.
Martyn has assembled a stellar line-up including the full Heaven 17 band performing songs made famous by the stars themselves, plus cover versions in the inimitable BEF electronic pop style.
Also featuring will be Thomas Dolby, Heaven 17’s Glenn Gregory, The Noisettes’ Shingai Shoniwa, Mari Wilson and The Farm’s Peter Hooton.
Martyn said: “This is going to be a unique gig, never seen before and never to be repeated, with lots of special arrangements and some surprises along the way.
“I feel a real affinity with Scotland and I love the setting of Scone Palace but for me it’s about the music and the people. Scottish audiences are famously bonkers about music and they give you such confidence and energy on stage, and make us give a better performance.
“The ‘80s was the last golden age of properly crafted intelligent pop when pop wasn’t a dirty word and while the music could be cheesy it was also edgy,”
“We’ve put a lot of effort into pulling together a great line-up and creating high quality performances and I hope people will have a great time.”
If you have a weekend or weekend camping ticket, the fun will kick off on Friday evening the party area opens from 6pm with a silent disco, a funfair, live acoustic music, theme bars, posh nosh and more.
Additional festival necessities will be present, including a kidzone for the little ones and a spectacular firework display to close the weekend. When Nature Calls wristbands will also be available giving festival goers access to posh loos.
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday January 29. Visit www.rewindfestival.com/scotland.