Festival brings back the 80s as some of the greats perform, write Leigh Adams and Sue Archer.

Eighties music “has a life beyond the life that we ever imagined” – so said Live Aid legend Midge Ure at Rewind Festival South’s 10th anniversary.

Speaking during a weekend of celebrations, Midge said: “There’s something about music from that period. It’s not just nostalgia, there’s something about the songwriting that was exceptional. It was wonderful stuff.

“When we wrote those songs we didn’t know that they were going to last, but since those bits of music were written we’ve got the internet and movies that keep them alive.”

And alive they certainly were as a galaxy of 80s stars took to the stage in Henley to take back fans back to their youth with a catalogue of timeless tunes.

Among those to get the crowd up and dancing was the ever-popular soul king Billy Ocean with classic hits such as When the Going Gets Tough and Caribbean Queen.

The captivating classics of Midge Ure, including Vienna and Dancing with Tears in my Eyes, really moved the Rewind crowd, as did Marc Almond with his usual heartfelt performance.

Marc was greeted by a sea of pink flamingos – a Rewind tradition when fans hold up inflatable flamingoes to reflect the words in his Say Hello, Wave Goodbye hit single.

Another stand-out performance was by Tom Bailey of the Thompson Twins, dressed in a slick white suit to match his all-female band, similarly dressed in white.

Hit single Hold Me Now had fans chanting in unison as the band went silent to hear the words reverberating around the festival, a moment which will stay etched in the memories of all involved, including a clearly appreciative Tom Bailey.

Sunday night had an electricity of its own thanks to headliners OMD whose synth pop spectacular did not disappoint, with a dazzling stage show to match the brilliance of their hits.

Andy McClusky’s quip that they would “only be playing 14 hit singles” showed just how many classic songs OMD have in their back catalogue, such as Enola Gay, Sailing on the Seven Seas, Electricity and Locomotion.

Cranking up the party spirit was the energetic Jimmy Somerville, whose popular hits included Smalltown Boy, You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) and Don’t Leave me this Way

Riding high on her recent chart success was the leather-clad princess of pop Kim Wilde who took the crowd back to that great decade with hit singles Kids in America.t.

With a changing festival ownership, taking Rewind into a new decade, there were bound to be some changes to the festival as we know it. But as the wise Doctor himself said: “In these divisive times, music brings people together and Rewind does it in a special way.”