The Darley Park Weekender 2023 -80s Mix Tape -Review

DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW.

Reviewed by Julie Hayward

The Darley Park Weekender, is in its second year and is hoped it will now be an annual event, held over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The three-night event kicked off on the Friday evening with an Ultimate 90’s featuring Peter Andre, East 17, Liberty X and Five. Saturday is the 80’s Mix tape and Sunday is The Darley Park Concert, an evening of classical music with a firework finale. Each day is a stand-alone event so you can pick and choose depending on your music preferences and your availability.

Being a teenager in the 1980’s and continuing to enjoy the music from that decade, the Saturday evening, 80s Mix tape, was the choice for me.

Set in the beautiful surroundings of Darley Park, the concert arena is a sectioned off enclosure with all that you would expect from a well organised event; you can pre-book parking, there is a box office and a security area. Gates open at 4pm, once through there are several pop-up street food and beverage outlets serving reasonably priced refreshments. The event organisers have adopted a sensible policy allowing you to bring a small amount of alcohol (no glass bottles) and a picnic, with plenty of space for folding camping chairs and picnic blankets.

You can sit anywhere except the marked off dancefloor directly in front of the stage. There are two areas with ample toilet facilities, the portacabins were kept extremely clean throughout the evening and in fact the entire site was litter free and there were stewards on hand at each fire exit. The atmosphere felt calm, relaxed and safe.

We sat and enjoyed our picnic whilst listening to the first act, Cassette Roulette, two female singers and two male guitarists who performed 80’s classics. We were close to the stage, but there were two large screens either side for an even closer view of the artists. To the left-hand side of the stage was a sign language interpreter, who was mesmerising to watch, as she sang and signed along to all the tunes throughout the night, I particularly enjoyed her signing along to ‘love shack’.

Next up were 80s Reunion, a tribute act who dressed the part in typical 80’s fashion, as did many of the audience members, you could spot several Adam Ant’s ‘Prince charming’ and men in streaked blond wigs, not doing the gorgeous, late, George Michael any justice. A few Boy Georges and of course the 80’s era Madonna’s. 80s reunion did a great job of getting us all to sing along to plenty of the much-loved songs from that time, including a brilliant Wham medley.

Hue and Cry performed some of their own songs, Looking for Linda, Labour of love and their cover version of Sam Sparro’s Black and Gold.

The Headline Act of the night was ABC, Martin Fry got us up on the dancefloor, clapping, dancing and singing along to his hit songs The Look of Love, Poison Arrow and All of My Heart, to think these were in the charts forty years ago it really did feel like yesterday.

The finale was Martin Kemp’s D.J set, originally of Spandau Ballet fame. He really knows how to get the party going, it was like being back at the youth club disco, happy memories and fabulous music.

Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost £28 per adult, ££15 per child
Darley Park Weekender 2024 -80s Mix Tape takes place on Friday 30th August 2024
for more information contact the box office on 01332 255800 or email boxoffice@derby.gov.uk
Darley Park, Derby DE22 1EN

https://www.derbylive.co.uk/whats-on/the-darley-park-weekender/