26 July 2025 (gig)
29 July 2025
It was the women who made an early impact at 80s Calling! a stone's throw from the Tay Bridge.
The first-time festival in Dundee featured a trio of the female leading lights who became household names during pop's most colourful decade. With a packed arena basking in glorious sun the event's opening salvo injected a massive dose of feelgood fun and no lack of quality into the retro event.
First up at the Slessor Gardens extravaganza, which followed on from appearances at the same venue the previous evening by 90s heroes Ocean Colour Scene and noughties stalwarts Fratellis and White Lies, was Carol Decker.
Appearing strictly solo with no band and just pre-recorded backing tracks for company, the T'Pau frontwoman displayed the sort of confident assurance that comes with hard-earned experience.
Lush offerings like Valentine and a swooning Whenever You Need Me were a reminder of the brilliant balladry her band was renowned form while a twitchy Sex Talk took the proceedings off into fist-pumping territory.
"I had my DNA done and it turns out I'm 34% Scottish," the singer announced. "I've had a few boyfriends but I didn't think it was that much."
With the 67-year-old's powerful voice just as impressive as it's ever been, slick new song Read My Mind came over like prime-era T'Pau, before Heart And Soul and another fresh offering, the dance-tastic Run, had the crowd grooving.
"I didn't write this one because if I did I'd be in the Bahamas rather than stuck in Dundee with you lot," Carol quipped ahead of a worthy cover of Journey's Don't Stop Believin'.
It had to be China In Your Hand that ended her set, and the classic chart-topper was the perfect kiss-off ahead of a turn
from Altered Images.
Clare Grogan and he gang of mostly female musicians have been back on the live scene for around 13 years now and the combo's tightness was apparent from the off.
The youthful exuberance in songs like I Could Be Happy and See Those Eyes came across in fine jaunty style, while an uber-angular Dead Pop Stars gave the band's beaming leader a chance to recall successfully writing to Siouxsie Sioux to ask for a tour support slot back in the day.
Stressing the day's family vibe, Glasgow-born Clare dedicated a cover of Lykke Li's I Follow Rivers to her daughter, while Don't Talk To Me About Love was performed in honour of the 63-year-old's husband.
Again, the big one was kept to the end, with Happy Birthday sparking euphoric scenes.
For her part, the force of nature that is Toyah took a position somewhere in between the two other acts in the absence of any Rewind-style house band, being accompanied on stage by guitarist Mike Goodwin.
The punk survivor's been teaming up to maximum impact in recent times with hubby Robert Fripp in a similar format so expectations were high – and she certainly didn't disappoint.
Packing a dramatic punch, favourites such as Good Morning Universe, Echo Beach and a delightfully histrionic Thunder In The Mountains played straight into the hands – and hearts – of Toyah's army of followers.
The elegant 67-year-old remains a sprightly presence, and she surely got her steps in for the week while tearing about the stage at a ferocious pace, the anthemic It's A Mystery finding her in fine voice as it felt like 1981 again.
Tales of wrestling antics and happy times in the play Trafford Tanzi presaged the haunting "lost" single Rebel Run, before a rendition of Billy Idol's Rebel Yell featuring some wonderful noodling from Goodman went for the jugular.
"How every single human being on this planet is unique and brilliant," was how Ms Willcox described the boogie-woogie gem she originally recorded for the Paralympics in 2007, Sensational – and it was.
Ending with a cover of I Love Rock'n'roll and signature tune I Want To Be Free was a masterstroke. Toyah's set was up there with the best of the entire festival.
Picture credit: shotbyagunnphotography.com
