REWIND! SCOTLAND 2019 - SUNDAY // SCONE PALACE, PERTH
DAY TWO AT REWIND SCOTLAND - WHO CARES ABOUT THE WEATHER?
REWIND FESTIVAL SCOTLAND! 2019
PICTURE BY: STEPHEN WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY
★★★★★ (5/5)
The unpredictable weather threatened again from the start of day two at Rewind Scotland, with the complete opposite from the previous day, in that it started great but got worse as the afternoon progressed. But the hardy Scottish crowd didnt see this as a problem, and when Toyah Wilcox took to the stage as the day two compere to introduce Big Country, the crowd went nuts!
Big Country were formed back in the early 80s after the demise of fellow Fifers The Skids, with a few members playing in both lineups. The main man from both bands was the legend Stuart Adamson, who sadly passed away in 2001, but both bands live on, with guitarist Bruce Watson’s son Jamie taking Adamsons place. Original drummer Mark Brzezcki remains also, but Tony Butler’s place on bass now goes to Scott Whitley, with Simon Hough on lead vocals. They rocked the crowd with classic tracks including Harvest Home, Chance, In A Big Country and Fields Of Fire. A tremendous start to the afternoon, and with a quick turnaround it was time for The Skids. Bruce and Jamie were joined on stage with original members Bill Simpson and Richard Jobson for tracks such as The Saints Are Coming, Working For The Yankee Dollar and Into The Valley. A section of punk classics were played as a tribute to Pete Shelley of The Buzzcocks who passed away recently.
Next on stage was Abba tribute Bjorn Again. An 80s music festival wouldnt be complete without some Abba tunes and the Australian group filled that void perfectly. Supertrouper, Waterloo, Take A Chance On Me and Dancing Queen, just some of the classics they performed, to the crowds delight, before being replaced on stage with music legend Leo Sayer, who turned back the clock with hits like Thunder In My Heart, One Man Band and When I Need You. Following Sayer was another icon of British music Midge Ure, who was responsible for not only performing but writing many well known hits of the 70s and 80s. He gave us If I Was, a solo hit for himself, Fade To Grey that he wrote and performed with in the band Visage and Vienna, a famous number 2 hit in 1981 with his band Ultravox.
As the rain started to fall it was time for the girls to take over. 80s pin up Hazel O’ Connor up first and she took us back to the early 80s with tracks such as D-Days, Eighth Day and Will You. Hazel was joined on stage by Clare Hirst from The Belle Stars who accompanyed her on saxaphone, a tremedous musician.
Following O’Connor was American idol Belinda Carlisle. Originally a member of The Go-Go’s, they had mild success with tracks like Our Lips Are Sealed, but in the late 80s Carlisle’s album Heaven on Earth provided her with many solo hits, some of which she showcased this evening. Circle In The Sand, Live Your Life Be Free, I Get Weak and the anthem Heaven Is A Place On Earth wowed the crowd and showed what a talent she still is. Great pop tunes from the Californian songstress.
As the evening drew on, and the rain continued to fall, the atmosphere was kept on the boil with the introduction of Lisa Stansfield, who showed she also can still cut it with hits including All Around The World, Never, Never Gonna Give You Up and Someday (Im Coming Back). What a voice this lady has, and the crowd were in full agreement.
Rewind Scotland was nearly over for another year, the daylight was fading, and the rain wasnt, but the crowd kept smiling. Up next to keep them smiling were The Stranglers. The punk rockers from Guildford have been blitzing the charts since the 70s and now only bassist Jen-Jacques Burnel remains from the original line up, with Baz Warne taking the lead from Hugh Cornwell. Classic tracks such as Walk On By, Peaches, Nice And Sleazy and No More Heroes had the crowd on their toes from the first notes of into tune Waltzing Black. Tremendous stuff from the veteren rockers.
And now, to close Rewind 2019, crooner Bryan Ferry. What more could you say about this musical icon that hasnt already been said? The undisputed king of suave and sophistication, Ferry, once the front man of glam rock giants Roxy Music, also had a solo career which ran in tandem with Roxy’s output, providing a back catalogue of band and solo work to make most artists green with envy. Tonight he showed why he has been a top performer for over 40 years, playing hits such as Slave To Love, Jealous Guy, Dont Stop The Dance, Oh Yeah, Love Is The Drug and Lets Stick Together. What a legend to close the show.
Another successful year for Rewind in Scotland, the weather wasnt the best but that didnt stop the crowds having a great time. Thousands travelled from all over, they dressed up, partied, danced and sang their hearts out and so many will already be planning Rewind 2020 !! This was yet again a terrific weekend of 80s nostalgia, in picturesque surroundings, with terrific music, well catered for with a variety of food and drink, and the rain and mud didnt matter. One of the best festivals on the circuit.
