Royal reception for Rewind stars

THOUSANDS of Eighties pop fans filled Temple Island Meadows at the weekend for the 15th Rewind South festival.

Twenty-two acts performed on Saturday and Sunday, including Kim Wilde, Heather Small from M People, Jason Donovan, Peter Hook and The Light, Nik Kershaw and the Earth Wind and Fire Experience by Al McKay.

The most highly anticipated performances came from the two headliners and Rewind regulars Billy Ocean and The Jacksons.

There was also another riverside stage featuring emerging artists, a silent disco and the Pink Flamingo Club, a party tent that was headlined by the festival’s MCs, TV presenter Jenny Powell and Clive Jackson, The Doctor from Doctor & The Medics.

Revellers dressed in bright neon clothes reminiscent of the Eighties and fancy dress costumes as characters from the decade.

A host of other attractions was set up on the meadows, including an inflatable church offering mock weddings, a children’s circus area and fairground rides.

Many revellers chose to camp on site while others made their way home, driving, walking along the river towpath or even by boat, on a taxi service run by Hobbs of Henley.

Ocean, 74, who headlined on Saturday, was supported by backing vocalists and his band, and was greeted by loud applause as he appeared on stage.

He performed some of his biggest hits including his 1976 single Love Really Hurts Without You and delighted the crowd with a cover of Bob Marley’s No Woman No Cry.

The Jacksons had a similarly ecstatic reception on Sunday, appearing on stage after a montage of their previous shows was played on the stage’s LED screen.

Dressed in black sequined outfits the group, featuring three original members, Tito, Jackie and Marlon Jackson, performed an hour-long set of their greatest hits.

The brothers were joined on stage by singers, Haydon Eshun and Tito’s son Taryll Jackson.

Addressing the crowd Marlon said: “I know what you are thinking right now — which ones were in the Jackson 5”, which was met with laughter.

The group performed their top hits including ABC, All Night Dancing, Shake Your Body and I’ll Be There as well as Tito’s 2021 single Love One Another.

Later in the show, speaking about the brothers’ upbringing, Marlon said the group owed their successes to their parents. Their mother Katherine, who discovered the siblings could sing, and their father Joe, who directed their rehearsals.

Marlon recalled: “We were only allowed to rehearse for three hours because we were underage and had a social worker with us because that’s the law in the US.

“So we were waiting to get into the rehearsal hall, waiting, waiting and the person inside the rehearsal hall was taking up so much time, taking up our time.

“The door opened up and Jimi Hendrix came out. I said: ‘Brother, you are eating up our time’.”

Kate Goodman, of Farm Road, and Kerry Fretwell, of Berkshire Road, both in Henley, dressed up as Freddie Mercury.

Ms Goodman, who replicated the Queen frontman’s I Want to Break Free outfit said: “I’m loving it so far.

“Peter Hook and The Light, they were amazing and so much fun. And I think I’ve had a photo with about 15 other Freddie Mercurys, which has been a highlight. Everyone needs a selfie with us.”

Ms Fretwell, who recreated Mercury’s iconic Live Aid outfit, adding his iconic yellow jacket, said: “At the beginning they played Break Free and so we ran at the top and we were with the another Freddie Mercury who had the vacuum cleaner. It was so funny.”

Rewind regular Jo Newbury, of Greys Road, attended with her brother Ian. Ms Newbury said it was her eighth year at the festival.

She said: “I love it. I absolutely love it. We camped the first year and it was amazing. Tiffany, who we just saw, was amazing. I love the atmosphere here everyone dresses up, it’s really good.”

James and Pip Statham and Nick and Fi Acworth travelled down from Whitchurch for the festival on Saturday night.

Mr Acworth said: “We have come for the evening session and the weather makes it very special. It’s our first time. We were just talking about doing more festivals and discovering it. We are trying to work out all the club gear and festival gear we need to get for next time.”

Dawn and Brent Austin, who have attended the festival for the last 12 years, came dressed as Princess Diana and then Prince Charles from their wedding in 1981.

Ms Austin said: “It was after covid, we just thought if we are coming back we’ve got to go big. And so we went big. We are big Rewind fans, but today has been amazing, We’ve been in so many photographs today.”

She said that the pair had put the costume together using bits found in charity shops, and on facebook marketplace.

Ms Austin added: “Somebody just told me off for having the wrong tiara, though. Apparently, this is not the Spencer tiara.”