Let's Rock - The Retro Festival

It was the decade of Rubik's Cube, Shoulder pads, New Romantics, Smash Hits, The Tube and good music. The 80's produced some memorable acts and some of them appeared before a 14,000 strong audience at Temple Newsam, Leeds at the Retro Festival.

Glorious weather with temperatures reaching 27c made it feel like you were watching the acts in southern Spain rather than Yorkshire.

Interestingly enough quite a lot of the acts on the bill would have performed in the 80's at the Refectory in Leeds University. Many in the audience here might have seen the performers at the sweaty rectangular venue 30 odd years ago.

Roland Gift is probably better known as being the lead singer of the Fine Young Cannibals. With feel good tracks such as Johnny Come Home and Good Thing he did not disappoint.

Leee John from Imagination was always a bit of a showman. Wearing a silver jacket he was as entertaining as ever. Mind you with tracks such as Changes, Flashback and Body Talk ("a song I wrote on my mother's kitchen table in north London") he had the crowd on his side, as soon as he stepped on stage. It was not all nostalgia as he performed a track off his new album, Retropia.

Do it Right Now sounded as good as the older tracks. Of course he saved Just An Illusion to the end. One of the best performances of the day, he shone just as bright as the June sunshine.

Kid Creole and the Coconuts brought some glamour to the evening. He did not look much different to how you would remember him. As stylish and smooth as ever with The Coconuts looking great too. The man who stood next to me said: "I want a coconut for Christmas". Stool Pigeon and Annie, I'm not your Daddy have stood the test of time.

Howard Jones arrived on stage with a 4 piece band. He appeared taken aback by the huge welcome he received from the audience. Life in One Day, New Song and What is Love brought back the memories. I had forgotten that he appeared at Live Aid in 1985, as he reminded everyone by performing Hide and Seek, the track he sang at the huge charity concert 32 years ago.

Tony Hadley, minus the rest of Spandau Ballet, brought his own band with him. Kicking the set off with his version of David Bowie's Life on Mars, it was not long before we were in Spandau mode with To Cut A Long Story Short.

He still has that voice and what a voice it is. He informs us that Through the Barricades is his favourite Spandau Ballet song, as he performs the track note perfect. Percussionist Lily Gonzalez also has a great voice which was showcased on the duets she sang with Hadley. Of course he saved True and Gold to the end of his set. He made it look so easy, a natural on stage he delivered a set that was 110%.

The Human League closed the festival. Lead singer, Phil Oakley darts across the stage and hardly stands still. He informs the fans that he lived in Leeds before doing the hits like Mirror Man, Fascination and Sound of the Crowd.

Don't You Want Me was initially performed at the festival as an instrumental with the capacity crowd singing the words, before Oakey, Susan Sully and Joanne Catherall return to the stage to sing the track.

Ending with Together in Electric Dreams, the festival had indeed been a dream concert for any fan of 80's music. Tonight we were all together in Electric Dreams. Superb.