Rewind Scotland

Perthshire's biggest music festival proved as much of a smash hit with its star performers as it did with its colourful fans.

The artists involved in Rewind Scotland have praised the feelgood atmosphere at the new-look Scone Palace event, which attracted five-figure attendances to catch bumper line-ups headlined by Foreigner and Bryan Ferry.

Not normally known for playing its for laughs, Skids frontman Richard Jobson said he had relished his band's fun-filled performance.

"As soon as we walked on stage and saw the way the audience was dressed I realised this was not a normal kind of gig for us, so I think we approached it in the right way," said the singer.

"We got a very positive response. The audience belongs to Rewind and not anyone in particular, and it's clear to me people come to this festival to have a cracking time.

"It's people who are essentially of an age, plus their kids, who just want to have an amazing time and dress up and be ridiculous.

"I dropped the more austere and serious aspects of what my band's about and went for the fun part. It's more Albert Tatlock this gig than it is The Saints Are Coming."

Jobson also found time to poke gentle fun at one of his fellow Scone Palace stars.

"I've been slagging off Leo Sayer for keeping us off the number one slot with our album and he's here today and well aware that I've been calling him a w****r so he's been gunning for me," he laughed.

After rocking Rewind later with a blistering set, Australia-based Sayer went out of his way to praise Rewind's friendly backstage vibe.

"I know all the Big Country boys really well — Mark Brzezicki used to drum with me for years — plus Richard and The Skids, Midge (Ure) and Bryan (Ferry)," he said.

"We've all worked together in the past. Hazel and Toyah, we're all mates backstage. How can you say no? It's all really good. And the audience is as well — they're bloody amazing!

"There are some really dynamic acts on the bill. I'm famous for hit pop songs but that's not all I do and I don't think it's all those other guys do either."

Rewind debutant Tracy Tracy from The Primitives praised the colourful Scone Palace crowd's youthful enthusiasm. "There are some very entertaining people out there," she declared.

"Social media and Spotify make it so easy for middle aged people to relive their youth but they've definitely made the effort."

The singer said she had no qualms about taking part in the predominantly pop-orientated festival despite her band being known as an indie outfit.

"Why not do Rewind?" added Tracy. "The '80s were a big part of our lives so why should we have to fold it all away? Rewind's fantastic and we enjoy doing it, and that's it.

"We've done a few new records recently but it's hard to get mainstream interest so it's doing things like this that makes it worthwhile really."

Undertones guitarist Mickey Bradley reckoned the festival's short set format made it a win-win situation. "Rewind's always great, maybe because we're only on stage for about 20 minutes or half an hour," he enthused.

"You're in and you're out and you see very different people. This is the only opportunity I've ever had to meet Dr from Dr & The Medics.

"The best thing about it is how happy people are. They're not here for one particular band — they're here for the whole experience, and if we can be a part of that I'm very happy.

"I work nine to five, Monday to Friday, and this is just a weekend away. I really enjoy that. This is my holiday, or at least one day of it."

Big Country guitarist Jamie Watson agreed Rewind was as much a day out for the bands as the revellers in the arena. "It's always fantastic to be invited back to Rewind, especially to Perth," he declared.

"When you come here you always get a good crowd. Everyone's here to have fun and let their hair down because they work so hard all year.

"We sometimes do the London shows as well which are really good but to be back seeing old friends like Uncle Midge has been great."

Come Into My Life hit-maker Joyce Sims went further, likening the Rewind party vibe to some of '80s club culture's biggest events. "It was more raves than festivals back then," the New York-born singer recalled.

"I did a lot of those and they were amazing. People floating through the air on top of each other and just the heat and the sweat — it was just packed and huge."

For her part, self-deprecating Coventry-born star Hazel O'Connor was delighted the audience had sung along to her classic hits from 1980 film soundtrack album Breaking Glass.

"A lot of people bought Breaking Glass as a package so they know all the songs, which is good for me," she said. "At my age I can forget the words, so that's especially helpful."

* Rewind North takes place in Cheshire this weekend (August 2-4) and includes sets by Gloria Gaynor, Thin Lizzy, Bananarama, Level 42, Heaven 17 and Tiffany. Rewind South at Henley follows on August 16-18 and features the likes of Four Tops, Michael Bolton, Lulu and Kathy Sledge.