Lytham Festival rolls back the years for rollicking good night

After years, no decades in fact, of doing the YMCA dance I, along with thousands of other Lytham Festival-goers can boast I have now done the moves to the live act.
80s/90s night at Lytham Proms.
Bay City Rollers.  PIC BY ROB LOCK
5-8-201680s/90s night at Lytham Proms.
Bay City Rollers.  PIC BY ROB LOCK
5-8-2016
80s/90s night at Lytham Proms. Bay City Rollers. PIC BY ROB LOCK 5-8-2016

This was just one of the highlights of what is traditionally party night at the Festival - and 2016 did not let the audience down.

With a line-up boasting the best of disco from the ‘70s to dance hits of the ‘90s, there was no excuse not to get up and shake it about a bit.

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Dubbed ‘Mix Tape Night’, this is the kind of feelgood music that along with a glass of prosecco gets the weekend off to a flying start.

Lytham Proms 80s/90s night.
Village People on stage.  PIC BY ROB LOCK
5-8-2016Lytham Proms 80s/90s night.
Village People on stage.  PIC BY ROB LOCK
5-8-2016
Lytham Proms 80s/90s night. Village People on stage. PIC BY ROB LOCK 5-8-2016

It was a chance for those of a certain age to relive their favourite hits ranging from Top Loader’s Dancing in the Moonlight to In The Navy, another floor-filler from Village People.

It may not be the most credible sound, but to many it is the soundtrack to their formative years.

And sometimes quite frankly you just want to let your hair down and dance round a handbag again!

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The night was kicked off by Top Loader and 911, but it was Five Star who got everyone moving.

80s/90s night at Lytham Proms.
911.  PIC BY ROB LOCK
5-8-201680s/90s night at Lytham Proms.
911.  PIC BY ROB LOCK
5-8-2016
80s/90s night at Lytham Proms. 911. PIC BY ROB LOCK 5-8-2016

They were one of the hottest properties on the music circuit in their day, and treated the audience to a selection of pop classics such as System Addict from 1985, Rain or Shine and The Slightest Touch.

For the tartan army, who were out in force, it was worth the wait for one of Scotland’s finest -The Bay City Rollers, who rolled back the years by four decades to the days when they were the heart-throb idols of many a young girl.

Frontman Les McKeowan was the only member of the line-up from the original act, but that didn’t seem to disappoint as he performed hits including Bye Bye Baby, Shang-A-Lang and I Only Wanna Be With You.

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Next on were Village People, who had inspired many festival goers to dress up in their own versions of the iconic Indian, cowboy etc. In fact 80s fashion was everywhere, plus a few Spice Girls for good measure.

Lytham Proms 80s/90s night.
Village People on stage.  PIC BY ROB LOCK
5-8-2016Lytham Proms 80s/90s night.
Village People on stage.  PIC BY ROB LOCK
5-8-2016
Lytham Proms 80s/90s night. Village People on stage. PIC BY ROB LOCK 5-8-2016

The Earth, Wind and Fire Experience had been due to be among the headliners, but surely no-one can have been disappointed by their replacements - Sister Sledge.

Sisters Debbi, Joni and Kim belted out a string of hits including Frankie, We Are Family, Lost in Music and He’s The Greatest Dancer.

While the night might have been a taste of nostalgia, a good beat stands the test of time.

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