Chilfest

Those endless summer days and nights of the 80s were brought back to life and back to reality by a Chilfest line-up as hot as the weather.

A heady mixture of soul, disco and R&B fused with the electro-beat which typified the 80s new wave, was performed by acts such as Soul II Soul, OMD, Midge Ure, and Alexander O'Neal.

Heading the eclectic lineup was the electric duo OMD who showed their true spark of genius with their orchestral manoeuvres in the dark.

There can't be many more 80s pop stars with more energy than the ever-exuberant lead singer Andy McCluskey whose dance moves across the stage would put athletes to shame.

Set against a high-voltage stage of lights and flashing images, the band performed a huge catalogue of hits such as Tesla Girls, Enola Gay, Electricity, Sailing on Seven Seas, Locomotion and Joan of Arc.

OMD are one of those bands where you don't quite realise just how many hit singles they had until they perform them one after the other, showcasing their incredible musical repertoire.

The festival, held in the idyllic setting of Tring, also featured a musical heavyweight in the world of pop, the legendary Midge Ure.

As well as performing unforgettable hits such as Fade to Grey, Vienna and Dancing With Tears in My Eyes, Midge paid homage to the late great David Bowie with a rendition of Boys.

To see such a legend of British pop culture standing just metres infront of us was a real privilege and the crowd showed their appreciation to hits such as If I Was, reminding them of how great the 80s were for lyrics and songwriting.

The day took a soulful turn as Soul II Soul produced a real summer vibe as Caron Wheeler and Jazzie B performed their classic hits including Back to Life and Keep on Moving.

And R&B legend Alexander O'Neal gave the crowd a memorable sundowner with his smooth renditions of Criticise and Saturday Love.

These club classics proved to be instant hits with the Chilfest crowd, taking them back to their clubbing years of the late 80s.

Rewinding back to the early 80s was new wave and synth pop legends Heaven 17 courtesy of keyboard maestro Martyn Ware and ever-smiling leadsinger Glenn Gregory. The duo treated the crowd to an electronic version of the Righteous Brothers' classic Unchained Melody, a version that Martyn used to play with his former band The Human League.

Their biggest hit Temptation really took the crowd up a notch, with some fantastic backing vocals and a real high-energy as the sun belted down.

Fine Young Cannibal's Roland Gift, who had one of the most distinctive voices in the 80s, showed that the passing of time has not affected his great vocals, performing his numerous hits from Suspicious Minds to Johnny Come Home and She Drives Me Crazy.

Her beehive may have gone but Mari Wilson still created a buzz as she opened the festival, getting the crowd in a mood to party with her hit Just What I've Always wanted.

The Real Thing proved to be a real crowd pleaser as they pumped up the audience with a string of disco hits, and were so interactive with the audience, it was almost like an aerobic workout.

From jumping and pumping, to swaying and singing, the Liverpudian band made the crowd work for their hits. From Can You Feel the Force, to Can't Get By Without You, and You to Me are Everything, the band took Chilfest on a magical trip back to the disco era.

There really was something for everyone at this year's Chilfest, and crowds were even treated to aerial views on the main screens, transmitting a birds-eye view of this ever-popular concert.

And with more space for festival goers this year, there can be no better way to spend a summer's day.

This is a real gem of a festival, as it always has such a friendly intimate vibe, where you can get up close and personal with some legends of the 80s, or relax in the beautiful surroundings for a more laid-back vibe. Let's hope Chilfest keeps the good times rolling in the Chiltern hills.