Let's Rock Leeds! - The Retro Festival

You wonder how many of today's acts will still be around in 35 years time - Ed Sheeran and Adele most certainly but others I'm not too sure.

The early 80's was a time when leg warmers, ankle socks, and ra-ra skirts were the order of the day - and quite a few of the 15,000 strong audience had dug deep into their wardrobes to dig out their old outfits. With more dressed up as Pirates than at a Pirates of the Caribbean convention and more day glo colours than an explosion in a paint factory - even the weather decided to play game.

Smash Hits was essential reading, Top of the Pops was an event in those days and following the charts an addiction. Some of the acts from that period in music have returned even bigger than ever, notably Rick Astley who has recently announced an arena tour.

Earlier in the day acts such as Toyah (standing in for Wendy James who was ill), Aswad, Captain Sensible and The Real Thing had entertained the fans via the house band.

Nik Kershaw brought his own band with him, including his drummer who is from Leeds. Just as a short rain shower had gone he aptly sang I Won't Let The Sun Go Down On Me. Wouldn't It Be Good was very good and how many knew that he wrote the Chesney Hawkes hit, The One and Only?

Marc Almond has a big connection with Leeds, although he decided not to make any reference to it during an accomplished set that included his newer songs which didn't falter. The Northern Soul classic Tainted Love that Soft Cell brought to the masses, is accompanied by the video screen behind him showing clips from the Wigan Casino.

Say Hello, Wave Goodbye had the fans remembering every word before he drops the T Rex hit, Hot Love. Almond still has the voice - as hot as ever.

ABC and Martin Fry looked as debonair as always, joking that the ravages of time had seen his waist size go from a 32 inch to a respectable 34 inch, his figure looked as lean as the music. Benefitting from a string quartet, tracks such as Poison Arrow and The Look of Love sounded sublime. Like a few of the other acts appearing ABC are still writing and recording - Viva Love from The Lexicon of Love 2 stands up there with the earlier tracks from their career.

Dedicating All Of My Heart to "anyone who was a New Romantic at the Warehouse in Leeds in 1982" it was like being transported back in Dr Who's Tardis to the iconic Leeds nightclub. Marc Almond would be there too running the cloakroom!

The aforementioned Look of Love closed a polished set, the look of love certainly shone.

Bob Geldolf drops a few swear words that didn't seem to go down too well with some of the audience attending with young families. Those that were fans from back in the day were treated to such classics as I Don't Like Mondays, Mary From The Fourth Form and of course, Rat Trap. Much improved from last time I saw the band in Leeds a few years ago, it seemed like Rats had got their hunger back. Geldof even shares he is wearing Bell Bottom trousers as they never went out of fashion in Leeds!

At least it gave the fans an opportunity to dress up as pirates with Adam Ant topping the festival. He still has the two drummers and a slick band too with Adam these days looking more like Napoleon than a pirate.

Dog Eat Dog and the drum infused Ant Music rocked as did his early hit Car Trouble. I wonder how many of the fans there were present when he played the Queens Hall in Leeds in 1982? Quite a few I should imagine.

Prince Charming had those at the front doing the arm movements from the video, all that was missing was Diana Dors who starred in the video.

Stand and Deliver closed a strong set that was the perfect finish to a day of great music.