Music festival will turn back the clock

Feb 14 2008 By Shirley Bartynek

AN eighties-style music festival is set to be held in the grounds of Strathclyde Park this August.

Retrofest 2008 is the first big festival to be staged at the county park since the departure of T in the Park to Balado in 1996.

The gig in Lanarkshire will feature eighties icons The Bangles, Boy George, Midge Ure, Paul Young, Kim Wilde, 10cc, Nik Kershaw, Peter Andre and Kajagoogoo.

The two-day festival was held last year at Culzean Castle in Ayrshire. However, organisers say they have moved to the park because it is a “bigger venue and has more space for campers”.

Thirty-two live bands will perform before an audience described by the organisers as “people who may not normally attend a festival.”

All the main acts will appear on the Retrofest North Lanarkshire Stage from midday on August 30 and 31.

Scotland’s first ‘carbon’ and ‘emission-free’ stage, powered by solar energy will showcase more than 12 new acts.

For those who want a break from the music there will be a ‘Retro Ritz Cinema’ showing classic films from the 70s and 80s such as Grease, Dirty Dancing and Back to the Future.

John Turnbull, countryside and landscape manager with North Lanarkshire Council, said this week: “The proposal for the Retrofest event, which has still to be finalised and confirmed, is that it will take place in the area of Strathclyde Country Park between the caravan site and M&D’s.

“There are pitches for 220 caravans/tents on the existing caravan site, with possible additional provision to be made if there is sufficient demand for it.

“An event of this type needs a full public entertainment licence, for which the event organisers are currently putting together an application.”