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Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
@Maxximum23Clark
9:37 PM 19th September 2021
arts

Let’s Rock Leeds! - The 80’s Music Festival Charms At Temple Newsam

 
If you remember the time when Frankie told you to relax, Wham! asked you to Wake Me Up Before You Go Go and Adam Ant was Prince Charming, chances are you were a 1980’s music fan.

You can see why outdoor concerts such as Let’s Rock! held after a two year Covid induced break at Temple Newsam in Leeds are the success they are - as well as giving the fans a chance to dust off their ra-ra skirts, day glow coloured clothes and hand warmers to dress up for the day, it is a reminder of what a golden age of pop music the 80’s were.

The fashions of the day might not have worn as well as the music, but when you have a line up as sturdy as this year's event and the late September sun decides to give a last taste of summer you have to be impressed.

Tony Hadley
Tony Hadley
Due to commitments later in the day, Tony Hadley surprised the audience by being the first on the bill. Even True, Gold and Through The Barricades sound superb, even if it has just gone midday.

Heaven 17
Heaven 17
Heaven 17 reminded the fans that their subliminal album Penthouse and Pavement was released exactly 40 years to the day. Lead singer Glenn Gregory has a commanding presence - and voice to match. “Let’s make this place one big nightclub like the Warehouse in Leeds” he suggests as the band slide into a rousing version of Temptation.

Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde’s band now has two drummers, with brother Ricky Wilde striking every rock pose in the book and Kim herself wearing a leather jacket, it looked more like they should have been performing at the Download Rock Festival.

The hits followed in quick succession from Chequered Love to You Keep Me Hanging On with Kids In America being saved for the encore after a triumphant performance.

Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge gave one of the most polished sets of the day. The Chic written and produced tracks such as He’s The Greatest Dancer and Everybody Dance were accompanied by some dexterous footwork. Chic’s Nile Rodgers still performs the two tracks live, so it was not surprising when Sister Sledge returned the compliment by performing Chic’s Good Times - they certainly were in Leeds.

Howard Jones
Howard Jones
Howard Jones spends less time behind his keyboards these days preferring to take centre stage. New Song, his introductory hit is accompanied by old Top of the Pops footage from 1983. With Kajagoogoo bass player Nick Beggs in the band the opportunity to play Too Shy was not wasted, though as Jones said as he introduced his hit, Things Can Only Get Better, the aptly titled song could have been written about the last 18 months.

ABC
ABC
Martin Fry along with ABC were still as smooth as Fry’s suit. The New Romantic’s might be older now though with classics in the bag such as Poison Arrow, Tears Are Not Enough and The Look of Love it was always going to be a winning combination. Viva Love from their last album gets an airing too which stands as tall and proud as their earlier work, though most of the audience seem indifferent to the track.

Andy McCluskey - OMD
Andy McCluskey - OMD
OMD proved to be the sensation of the day - the Liverpool act played a set worthy of headliners. Andy McCluskey still does his crazy dad dance routine which contrasts with the more laid back Paul Humphreys. With McCluskey on top form and a back catalogue of hits at his disposal it was hard not to be impressed. From opening with Enola Gay to ending with Electricity they had the audience on their side for the entirety of their hour long set.

Adam Ant
Adam Ant
For many Adam Ant was the ultimate early 80’s star. Whereas the majority of the music performed during the day was synthesised based, Adam and the Ants conversely headlined with a nod to rock with a dash of punk from Car Trouble to the Burundi drums of Ant Music and Dog Eat Dog. By the time Prince Charming and Stand and Deliver were sung it sent out a reminder that the flamboyance, colour and excitement of the time was sadly missing from today’s pop music.

A wonderful end to the summer.