Dreamscape – Toyah Willcox Fansite

Ahead of her appearance at Church, Dundee on April 26, singing sensation Toyah Willcox shares some glimpses into her life

Q Which singers, alive or dead, inspire you?
A David Bowie, Jim Buckley, Antony Hegarty.

Q What was your plan B career-wise?
A I always wanted to be a sculptor.

Q Your house is on fire, what one item do you save?
A My husband. If it was an object, then one of my paintings by my friend Frankie Sundsten.

Q Theme song for your life?
A All Along the Watchtower by Jimi Hendrix. He was one of the ‘27 Club’, like Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain, who died aged 27 and the philosophy is that their work is done by then. That’s a tragic but also slightly romantic notion.

Q Last meal on earth?
A Superfood salad with fresh mango.

• Continue reading at The Courier. See the print version of this article. (Thanks to Sharon Dickson)

Music fans heading to Scone Palace for this year’s Rewind ’80s festival began arriving in the early hours the day before a note was played. “People were queuing at 4.30am, they are more enthusiastic than ever,” said Meg Jenkins of Rewind on Friday.

Although the festival proper doesn’t start until Saturday thousands of the 30,000 revellers decided to arrive the night before with traffic stretching back miles from the Scone site in all directions throughout the day. Rewind Scotland line up, running order will be announced on the day.

Saturday – Rick Astley, Holly Johnson, Tony Hadley, Marc Almond, Leo Sayer, Go West, Living in a Box, Average White Band, The Beat, The Bluebells, Hazell Dean, Snap.

Sunday – ABC, Adam Ant, Big Country, Midge Ure, Slim Jim Phantom from Stray Cats, Roland Gift, China Crisis, Toyah, Annabella of Bow Wow Wow, Thomas Dolby, The Lotus Eaters, Heaven 17’s Glen Gregory.

• Continue reading at The Dundee Courier.

Thousands of music fans of a certain age will descend on Scone Palace over the weekend for their annual opportunity to rekindle the excitement of their youth.

The Scottish stop for Rewind – the world’s biggest 80s music festival – boasts a who’s who of the decade’s top names from local heroes the Average White Band to Toyah.

Campers who intend to take in the full event begin arriving on Friday with the musical attractions spread out over Saturday and Sunday. The finishing touches are currently being made to the Scone site overlooking the river Tay.

• Continue reading at The Dundee Courier.

Perth’s bid to be the UK’s City of Culture is being backed by pop star Toyah Willcox

The ‘80’s hit-maker believes the Fair City is in rude health to challenge for the prestigious honour, and that the annual staging of the Rewind Scotland festival at Scone Palace can only boost the locality’s case.

The Birmingham-born singer and actresss regularly visits the area and was a popular draw at Perth Concert Hall when the musical Vampires Rock enjoyed sold-out stints at the venue in 2009 and 2010.

“It doesn’t surprise me that Perth is bidding to become the UK City of Culture,” Ms Willcox said. “I think Perth deserves that recognition as much as any other city.”

“I think cities that preserve their own culture and look after it, and are in touch with their own history, as well as supporting the local population, deserve to be City of Culture. I think it’s a very good thing to have happen and I wish Perth the best of luck.”

• Continue reading at The Courier.

Holly Johnson and Adam Ant lead line-up for Rewind Festival Scotland 2016

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 crème de la crème of classic ‘80s pop music including headline performances from Holly Johnson (Relax, Two Tribes) and Adam Ant (Stand and Deliver, Prince Charming).

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.

• Continue reading at The Dundee Courier.

It’s no mystery: Toyah will take to stage for two Stonehaven Town Hall gigs

Toyah Willcox is the latest chart star to play one of the north-east’s most popular music venues.

The former punk princess is to take the stage at Stonehaven Town Hall on September 18 and 19.

The gigs follow her successful recent appearance at Scone’s Rewind festival alongside other greats from the 1980s – including Bananarama, Jimmy Somerville, Kim Wilde and Nik Kershaw.

The event is being organised by music shop owner Chris Stirk, who has also booked ska band Bad Manners, led by Buster Bloodvessel, for October and Scottish hard rock group Nazareth for next April. She has already brought rockers Big Country to the town hall and was also responsible for a highly-acclaimed version of the musical Hairspray being put on there, with auditions about to start for a stage version of the hit movie Fame.

Chris, who also organises the popular open-air charity music festival Party in the Park, said: “These revival gigs usually turn out to be great nights out, with the acts giving their all and the crowd bopping along.”

• Continue reading at The Dundee Courier.

Picture gallery: Thousands enjoy flashback to the 80s at Rewind Festival – Toyah Willcox introduces the bands. View the gallery… (Photo © Dundee Courier)