OLDIES BUT GOLDIES
With the biggest 80s/90s festival in the UK taking place in the East Midlands this month, HELEN BARNES catches up with some of the stars heading to Cattows Farm...
VENGABOYS
It’s going to be great to have you playing in the UK again, even better that it’s the East Midlands: How excited are you?
Funny thing is we were glancing over our tour schedule and got all excited when we saw it coming up. We always feel very welcome. Plus, every time we hope we get to meet the legendary Gary Lineker. He’s Sailor Robins’ big, big hero. Plus, a mutual friend told us one of Gary’s favourite songs is Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom! Maybe this time around we’ll really get to meet him.
This will be your third year at a James Dean Events festival – how different will it be this time around and what’s so special about these events?
Well, apart from the super relaxed and positive atmosphere, it’s a line-up you will find nowhere else. Tony Hadley, Pat Sharp, Nik Kershaw, East 17, Katrina and the Waves, they’re all our childhood heroes. We’re performing on Sunday. Which is the same day as the amazing Alice DJ so definitely gonna enjoy that show!
Everyone I mention Vengaboys to just starts singing “the Vengabus is coming...” how do you feel about the longevity of your music and that everyone still knows all your tracks?
Hahaha. It’s crazy. Saw some stats recently. The majority of our audience right now is in their early 20s. Which is interesting. But during our shows it really doesn’t matter. All ages are celebrating together.
Can you tell us something you’re working on or will be doing in the future – a little exclusive for us in the East Midlands?
We have a new EP out! Recently we released two stripped-back versions of Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom! and We’re Going To Ibiza, in celebrating 20 years since we first topped the charts. Curious how they sound?
TONY HADLEY How do you feel about headlining the event?
Brilliant! To be honest, I just love gigging, it’s great fun! There will be a lot of great artists there on the day and that’s part of it as well – just meeting all the other artists that maybe you haven’t bumped in to for a few years.
I remember your “kilt look” in your first Top Of The Pops appearance. Was that your idea?
No. I will tell you how that came about. In the late 70s some clubs that we took over had certain images. A guy called Chris Sullivan ran a club on a Tuesday night called Le Kilt, in Soho, and that inspired the whole tartan fashion look.
Back in the day, was fashion as important to you as the music?
Well, there’s a bit of a weird one there – in some ways what was unfortunate for the band was that some thought we did take the fashion more seriously but, at the end of the day, the music has to stand the test of time, it has to be good. But the fashion was important, too.
Have you kept any of the outfits?
Oh God, no. I think I have a couple in the attic. To be honest, I haven’t a clue where most of it is – it might be round me mum’s actually…
JIVE BUNNY How does it feel to still be performing after 30 years?
It feels pretty good because Jive Bunny is a novelty act and the lifespan of novelty acts, as we proved back in the day, is about one to two years! We had a rollercoaster ride in 1989 – fastest three number ones in the UK ever, it was all a bit surreal. Now we aren’t trying to sell new music, we are just playing the hits.
Is the bunny head the original one?
No. The original head was quite ill-fitting and quite scary – it still gives me nightmares. Over a period of time it’s changed, it’s a lot lighter and I can breathe!
How do you cope wearing the head on stage – don’t you get hot?
I survive on pure adrenaline. I have two fans on the side of the stage and have had to occasionally run off if sweat has ended up in my eye and I can’t see.
What can we expect from the show?
It’s the biggest hits, in the mix, non-stop! There are several dimensions; you get the audio, the video, the bunny and four amazing dancers. You can’t catch your breath!
BEN – A1 You’re one of the bands that played here several times – what do you love about it?
Well, I think it’s always the audience for us, at any gig really. It’s amazing how after so many years after we first began, that they’re all there, out in force and loving the songs.
I noticed that you’re booked for Ibiza, too, later in the year… We’re booked for so many things, it’s incredible, our schedules are choc-a-bloc and next year is even busier – we will be touring with Five for the Boys Are Back tour. We have 40 dates with that, going all over the world, gigging and still having a great time.
What was the last festival you bought a ticket for?
I’ve never bought a ticket for a festival. I’ve never been to one that I’m not performing at. I’ve not really wanted to – I know there’s Glastonbury, but it all just looks like a muddy mess. As for having to queue an hour for a beer…
SASH Your website states that “Where Sash! Does perform, is party, real party!” so what’s special about your DJ sets?
It is full of energy from the first to the last minute and full of hits from the past that everybody knows!
What are you most looking forward to about playing at Cattows Farm?
It will be nice to celebrate the sound of SASH! and the 90s with all these party people.
You’re literally working all over the world in August – are the British audiences any different from other countries?
They are a little bit different in music taste but
do love the sound of SASH! as it shows in the chart lists from the 90s with 10 top-10 hits and five number two’s out of it.
NIK KERSHAW
How do you feel about being part of the biggest 80s/90s festival?
Very excited. I’m doing a few similar-themed shows this year and it’s always good to go back to those old songs.
Which was the last festival you went to?
I can honestly say I have never been to a festival to watch. In fact, I’ve huge amounts of admiration for anyone that can stand out in the mud or blazing heat! I take my hat off to them. Whereas I’m swanning about backstage, drinking Pimms.
So, I presume you’ve never glamped, then?
I’ve glamped backstage before. Kind of. There’s a couple of events where you can take your own caravan, so we pitched up and stayed the whole weekend.
There’s a mass “Where’s Wally” fancy dress attempt – could we tempt you to join in?
Okay, I wasn’t aware of that – I’ve probably got a suitable outfit somewhere in my wardrobe…
EDELE – B*WITCHED
Do you prefer festivals or indoor gigs?
I love a festival, me. Definitely. I like an indoor gig, but the atmosphere is completely different. I love being outdoors anyway, but singing outdoors is on another level.
What keeps bringing you back to Cattows Farm?
Because they keep asking us to! It’s just so brilliant doing these kinds of festivals. Who doesn’t want to relive a bit of their youth? Everyone in the crowd is so up for it. It’s a lovely family do and a nice day out.
What are B*WITCHED currently working on?
We have done a version of Hold On, by Wilson Phillips, which we’ve been gigging for a while. The audience seem to love it, so we’re just finishing it off in the studio and it will be out to buy in the next month or two.
Finally, what’s the chance of you persuading your brother (Shane Lynch – Boyzone) to pop along to Cattows, too? We’d love to see him there... Ha-ha, the chances are fairly slim. He does come to some of our gigs, like Stepback, if it’s local to where we live, but he’s usually working!
■■Cattows Farm, Swepstone Road, Heather, Leicestershire, LE67 2RF.
Friday, August 30, until Sunday, September 1. Tickets: eventbrite.co.uk/e/back-to-the-80s90s-festival-2019