The Darley Park Weekender – 80’s Mix Tape 2025, Derby Review
DISCLOSURE – THIS EXPERIENCE WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST/S FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW.
Reviewed by Julie Hayward
The Darley Park Weekender is an annual music event, Friday night is dedicated to music from the 80’s, Saturday is 90’s music and on Sunday is The Darley Park Concert for an evening of Classical Music.
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.
You can bring along your own camping chairs, which I would recommend so you have a base for the evening ahead, although we were up on our feet dancing in front of the stage for most of the night.
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.
There is an accessible area with its own entrance for people with additional needs, and their companions, which looked spacious.
The Darley Garden is a V.I.P area which is sectioned off to the right-hand side of the stage, it includes its own bar, upgraded toilet facilities, some picnic tables, also you can bring in your own chairs and of course a you get a closeup view of the performers.
Although the view was pretty good throughout the venue, as I think it is the ideal size for this kind of event, not too big or too small.
Friday night was hosted by Radio Derby presenter, DJ Becky Measures, who had the crowd up from the off, and local band Cassette Roulette entertained. The Fizz were on before we arrived, which is a shame, as I am sure I would have enjoyed seeing them perform numbers from the original Bucks Fizz.
For me the highlight of the night was seeing Haircut 100, as a teenager their single, ‘Boy meets girl’ was the first record I bought, it was very nostalgic to see the pink stripes of the record cover being used for the stage background. Nick Heyward, the bands lead singer, was a poster on my bedroom wall, he was probably a teenager himself at the time, and 40 years on they still sound great.
Gary Davis held the slot before the Headline act Bananarama. Gary’s DJ set was amazing he played all the 80’s bangers and the audience loved every minute. I would have been happy if that was the climax of the evening.
Bananarama did not disappoint, now just the two out of the original three took to the stage, Sara Dallin and Karen Woodward performed many of their hits, including ‘Love in the third degree’, ‘Venus’, ‘Na Na Hey Hey’, ‘I heard a rumour’, ‘He was really saying something’, Nathan Jones and ‘Robert De Niro’s waiting’ and ‘Cruel Summer’.
To conclude we had in the lyrics of Haircut 100, we had a ‘Fantastic Day’ that had us partying into the night.
Rating: 5/5
Tickets for Friday and Saturday cost £27 per adult/£35 on the day, £15 per child.
V.I.P tickets are £65
For the Sunday Darley Park Concert cost £6 in advance, £3 per child/£11 on the day, £6 per child
Darley Park Weekender takes place Friday 29th August until Sunday 31st August.
Tickets can be bought on the Derby LIVE website or for more information contact the box office on 01332 255800 or email boxoffice@derby.gov.uk
Darley Park, Derby DE22 1EN