Rewind line-up revealed

BILLY Ocean and The Jacksons will headline at this year’s Rewind South festival in Henley.

The line-up for the 15th annual retro pop festival was announced yesterday and tickets went on sale at 8am today.

It will take place at Temple Island Meadows in Remenham from Friday to Sunday, August 16 to 18.

Ocean, 74, who is a MOBO lifetime achievement award winner, will perform an exclusive show created for the festival on the Saturday night.

The performance will include a big band, gospel choir and special guests.

He will sing his biggest hits including When The Going Gets Tough, Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car, Love Really Hurts Without You and Suddenly.

Ocean previously performed at the festival in 2021 and 2018.

On the Sunday night, the original members of The Jacksons — Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Marlon — will perform hits made with their brother Michael, including ABC, I Want You Back, I’ll Be There and Rockin’ Robin.

The main stage show will be hosted by Jenny Powell, of Greatest Hits Radio, on the Saturday.

Other acts will include singer-songwriter Gabrielle, who topped the charts in 1993 with her debut single Dreams, and Brit Award-winner Kim Wilde, who first found fame with her debut single Kids in America in 1981.

Also taking to the stage will be Heather Small, the former lead vocalist of M People, Boyzlife, the supergroup comprising Keith Duffy and Brian McFadden of boybands Boyzone and Westlife, and Jason Donovan, who appeared on Australian soap Neighbours before launching his pop career.

His duet with Kylie Minogue, Especially For You, topped the charts in 1988.

Clive Jackson, alias the Doctor from Dr and the Medics, will host the main stage show on Sunday.

The other performers will include the Earth, Wind and Fire Experience led by Al McKay, the band’s former guitarist, a six-time Grammy winner.

Nik Kershaw, who is best known for his hit I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, and Hue and Cry, made up of brothers Patrick and Gregory Kane, will return to the festival after their performances in 2018. Roland Gift, the former frontman of Fine Young Cannibals, will return after his last performance in 2021.

Others acts across the weekend include Bad Manners, Tiffany, Altered Images, Katrina of Katrina and the Waves, David Grant from Linx, Aswad, Shakatak, Peter Hook and the Light and Living in a Box.

Steve Porter, the festival producer, said: “We are always so excited in the build-up to the artists launch as months of planning, negotiation and excitement comes to a head when we can tell all the Rewinders who they can see this year.

“There are loads of highlights for me this year with the return of Billy Ocean with his exclusive Rewind show and then the amazing Jacksons who I have never seen and can’t wait to do so. As ever with Rewind, it’s all about the entire weekend and all the other fun things that are around site which we can’t wait to develop and finalise over the coming months.

“This weekend is a chance to really go back in time relive some of those songs with great friends and like-minded fans. You really can ‘Rewind for a better time’.”

At the festival grounds there will be glamping, a funfair, fireworks, street food and entertainers, bars, shops and stalls with jewellery and clothes, a silent disco and a kids’ zone with circus workshops and magicians.

The inflatable church, where festival-goers can get “married”, and the Pink Flamingo Club will also return this year.

For tickets, visit www.rewindfestival.com or in person at Hobbs of Henley.