Rewind South 2022

So catching up on stuff from last summer, starting with Rewind festival, a retro festival appealing very much to my demographic. Really a nostalgia fest. A large collection of acts who had modest success in the eighties, but when bunged all together they make a visual live greatest hits album.

All taking place at that hotbed of rock and roll, Henley on Thames.

Now a field in Henley isn't exactly ideal for someone who doesn't have a car. But fortunately my mate John was up for this and drove us down there.

An odd set up. John and I took places at the barrier at the front. But perhaps reflecting the demographic, behind us was a little amphitheatre of people in deckchairs.

MC was a rather youthful looking Pat Sharp. Indeed, having lost the mullet I felt he looked rather better than in his heyday!

First act up were the Irish band the Hothouse Flowers. Guy on double bass definitely picked award for loudest shirt (and trousers) of the day

Next up were the Selecter, second string to the Specials in the Coventry Two Tone scene. They were a perfect example of a phenomenon of later acts. A couple of good songs but that was really it. Pauline Black on vocals was energetic. Fun for a short burst.

A DJ entertained between bands. With little energy.

Then the oldest act in the show, the Real Thing - a seventies act rather than an eighties one. Sadly they are themselves in their seventies, and now only a duo rather than a foursome; the other two have passed away. But they were the surprise package of the day, in that they were really upbeat and entertaining . Arguably best performance of the day.

And another last survivor, Tom Bailey the last member of the Thompson Twins, who the better informed will remember were actually a trio. The other two are still alive, but no longer performing, leaving Tom to do his best with variations on their few, but excellent and memorable, hits, like Love on Your Side, Doctor Doctor and You Take Me Up.

The award for best preserved act goes to 50 year old Chesney Hawkes. I mean we were a decent distance from the stage but basically if you told me he was 30 rather than 50 I would have easily believed you. He also just comes across as the nicest, bouncest personality. Only catch with Chesney is that unlike the other acts with a few hits to their name, he has just the one, albeit an absolute humdinger and total crowd pleaser, I am the One and Only. And even that was written for him by Nik Kershaw.

Delightfully, he had his 16 year old son playing bass. You can definitely see the resemblance. And very competent guitarist who had a decent solo on their cover version of Prince's Purple Rain

To follow was a much plumper Mica Paris, but she still has a real voice - yes best vocalist of the day.

The Lighthouse were a duo, but now just Tunde Baiyewu. Decent voice, but basically just the one song to he repertoire, Lifted. We didn't really need anything else. Rest was filler.

Heather Small of M People was another of the strongest acts. She looks and sounds very well, has personality and energy and a few hits to sing.

Midge Ure of Ultravox was certainly one of the bigger names to be playing. Has a few really good songs to his name, so we enjoyed his set.

And finally the one long set of the day from headliners Human League. Along with Midge Ure possibly the only act that could sustain a whole set without boring the audience. Always a great band to see.