Hold on to your ‘80s ra-ra skirts for a little while longer and don’t chuck your roller boots away just yet, as the Isle of Wight is once again gearing itself up for the ultimate feel-good festival!
Jack Up The 80s is a two-day retro pop festival which takes place on August 11 and 12, and provides a family weekend of musical entertainment from household chart names, food, attractions, kids arts and crafts and stalls.
The 2018 artist line-up includes Grammy Award-winning and international chart-topping music legend Leo Sayer, British pop rock group T’Pau, punk princess Toyah Willcox, soul star Jaki Graham, Spandau Ballet’s Martin Kemp, the one and only Chesney Hawkes and many more.
Special guests from the noughties Phats & Small will be helping to mix things up a bit, along with boy band Five.
The event is fast making a name for itself as the most fun festival on the South Coast. It offers an unbeatable atmosphere and is completely safe, inclusive and affordable for all.
• Continue reading at the Daily Echo. Browse our Jack Up The 80s news. Visit the festival’s Official Website.
Eighties icons helped bring a Hampshire festival to life.
Graze Festival in Twyford saw more than 2,000 people gather where they enjoyed acts like The Beat and Toyah.
Rock ‘n’ roll singer John Otway was also a performer at the event where people also danced to music by Flight Brigade, Polly and the Billets and The Lucky Strikes. Also appearing were Robert Vincent, Rews, Lilo’s Wall, Southampton Ukulele Jam, DJ Super Kat and Luna Rivers.
• Continue reading at the Southern Daily Echo. This morning Toyah tweeted a photo from yesterday’s Graze Festival congratulating them on a successful second year.
The Graze Festival returns to Twyford on Sunday. The home-grown music and food festival is once again ready to rock.
Headlining the main stage this year are ska and reggae sensations The Beat, featuring Ranking Roger and his son Ranking Junior. The band have eight top 40 hits to their name, including Mirror in the Bathroom which reached number 4 in the UK charts back in 1980.
Joining them at the top of the bill is Toyah, famous for her hits It’s A Mystery and I Want To Be Free. She has appeared on TV in everything from Doctor Who to Loose Women. She was even in the film Quadrophenia and is currently filming the sequel.
• Continue reading at the Southern Daily Echo.
The SAS Band hope to crown their headline appearance at the Wickham Festival this weekend with a special tribute to the music stars who have died in 2016.
Already this year fans have mourned the passing of David Bowie, Prince and Maurice White from Earth, Wind and Fire among others. Spike’s All Star Band is made up of varying big name artists who play their own and other musicians’ hits for a great party atmosphere and Madeline Bell, pictured, who will be appearing with them tomorrow night, is planning a fitting send-off.
One of the great joys of playing festivals for Bell – and for Fish who will also be part of the SAS line-up at Wickham – is the chance to meet up with old friends in a happy environment.
The pair will be joined at Wickham by Toyah Willcox and Queen drummer Roger Taylor for what is sure to be a magical night.
• Continue reading at the Southern Daily Echo. NB: Toyah was rehearsing with The SAS Band this week and tweeted that she will be performing a David Bowie song.
Tony Hadley will kick off an all-star Wickham Festival on Thursday.
The Spandau Ballet frontman tops the bill on the opening night, then the following night the Stranglers and Bruce Foxton’s From the Jam will be the main attractions at the event, which was voted best Festival (Under 15,000 capacity) at last year’s Live UK Music Business awards.
Headlining on Saturday will be the SAS Band with a line-up which will include Queen drummer Roger Taylor, former Marillion lead singer Fish, Madeline Bell and solo artist/actress Toyah Willcox before Lindisfarne close the four-day event on Sunday August 7.
• Continue reading at the Southern Daily Echo.
Thousands get ready for 80s fest as Let’s Rock gets underway
Southampton’s feast of the 80s has got under way on the Common. Thousands of neon clad revellers have already gathered for Let’s Rock Southampton.
Revellers are getting in the spirit and a Pamela Anderson lookalike stag can be seen leading a whole pack of his Baywatch style lifeguard mates in a Grease singalong at Let’s Rock Southampton. Meanwhile Ghostbusters are patrolling the field, Subbuteo players are in full kit and there are a few superheroes and Star Wars characters at the 80s revival festival.
They are being entertained by 2 Tone ska revival band The Selecter in a change to the advertised line up. Doctor and the Medics, Toyah and Bucks Fizz were set to follow this afternoon before the 80s big guns including current chart-topper Rick Astley.
Organisers are expecting around 9,000 party-goers for today’s third annual event.
• Continue reading at the Southern Daily Echo. (Photo © Southern Daily Echo)
Three celebrated UK acts will perform at the second annual Graze Festival in Hampshire this summer.
The Beat, featuring Ranking Roger and his son Ranking Junior, will entertain crowds with hits such as Mirror In The Bathroom, Stand Down Margaret and Tears Of A Clown.
The ska favourites will be joined by Toyah Willcox, who has enjoyed eight Top 40 singles in a career spanning more than 30 years, and her band, plus pop, folk and punk performer John Otway at the event.
The first Graze Festival was held in Twyford, near Winchester, in August 2015 as a family day of music and fine food. As well as entertaining villagers and visitors, the festival also raises money for local good causes.
• Continue reading at the Southern Daily Echo.
Bad hair, neon clothes and most importantly classic tracks that went down in music history – it’s Southampton’s own celebration of the 80s.
Now organisers of Let’s Rock Southampton have announced the line-up for their third date on the Common next summer, the Daily Echo can today reveal.
Revellers will be dancing to the sounds of former Frankie Goes To Hollywood lead vocalist Holly Johnson, heartthrobs from the era Rick Astley and Jason Donovan, Grammy Award winners Soul II Soul, Fine Young Cannibals frontman Roland Gift and former teen icon Tiffany.
Also on the bill are Scottish rockers Big Country, 2 Tone ska revival band The Selecter, Eurovision favourites Sonia and Cheryl, Mike and Jay from Bucks Fizz, plus chart-topping Toyah and rockers Dr & The Medics.
• Continue reading at the Southern Daily Echo.
