Rewind

So, for four days in August 2013 the dance happy girls returned to Henley upon Thames for the Rewind Festival - with some changes to the usual routine.  




The previous year in the wee small hours, in a tent colder than the arctic, with the faint whiff of the festival toilets on the breeze and the sound of snores from the tent next door Janie had muttered darkly "If you make me camp again - I will kill you"  So this year saw us safely ensconced in a room in a pub, with hot running water, soft beds and soundproofing.  Bliss



Another change was that we had finally accepted an invitation to a VIP pre-party and it was there that we had an opportunity to enjoy a small and intimate set from Go West.



















Richard Drummie from Go West caught the eye of the dance happy girls at the pre party on Saturday and again on Sunday, clearly amused to see two 80s clad girls amidst the suits and ill fitting shorts of the corporate guests.  I was lucky enough to meet him after his official set on Sunday night at Rewind and share a moment of mutual admiration me of his music and he of my audacity in wearing a frock that made me look like the love child of Bonnie Tyler and a Russian prostitute called Olga.

It wasn't a stellar line up for me, the two headline acts being major disappointments, although Janie would kill me for not saying that the B52s are all things wonderful and quirky and she LOVED seeing them live with a deep and burning passion.

This is for you Jani

Saturday Running Order	Sunday Running Order
Steve Augeri (former lead singer of Journey) The Flying Pickets Chesney Hawkes The Blow Monkeys Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel The Sugarhill Gang Heaven 17 Then Jerico Nik Kershaw Billy Ocean Kim Wilde The B-52's	Cutting Crew Sonia Imagination (featuring Leee John) Matt Bianco Aswad The Orchestra (former members of Electric Light Orchestra) Belinda Carlisle Go West Blancmange Paul Carrack ABC The Pointer Sisters

My magical, musical moments came from Steve Harley. Nik Kershaw, Heaven 17,  Aswad,  The Orchestra, Go West and Blancmange.  And the prize for act of the weekend for sheer nostalgia and bloody feel good factor, goes to The Orchestra.  Bet you can't press play and not smile like a loon.

Aside from reliving our youth worshipping at the feet of minor 80s pop stars, we were able to spend time hanging out with The Swedes, to whom we owe our nom-de-plume and probably a great number of beers!!!

And dancing on tables, yes on tables, to the absolutely fabulous Rewind resident band Junior Guevarra.  These guys have been a key feature of Rewind Henley and have incredible energy and passion, heading up the Friday night party and successfully drawing crowds away from the main stage on Saturday and Sunday night.  If you find yourself in or around Reading try and catch them at a local gig.  You won't regret it.
junior guevarra Facebook page here