Go back to the future at Retrofest

Aug 27 2008 by Gordon Robertson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

EIGHTIES pop stars Kim Wilde, Nik Kershaw, Kajagoogoo, The Bangles and Boy George will be in North Lanarkshire this weekend for the second Retrofest music bash.

Strathclyde Country Park is gearing up for the three-day event which opens on Friday.

Festival organisers started work on putting the site together last Friday and have been hard at it ever since.

As well as some chart topping names, local up-and-coming acts have also been given slots on the bill.

Glenmavis singer Adriana and Coatbridge band The Beggar's Lake have been added to the line up and will be playing the Tomorrow's World stage on Saturday 8pm and 12 noon respectively.

The festival is expected to attract huge crowds and there are reports that all hotels within a three-mile radius of Strathclyde Park are sold out.

Retrofest organiser Bradley Snelling said: “It’s fantastic to finally be on site at Strathclyde Country Park.

“We’ve been planning the festival for a year now and it’s great to see it starting to take shape.

“We’re really excited to be here in Lanarkshire for the second Retrofest festival.

“It’s great to have the local community so well represented with acts such as Laura Fletcher and Adriana, as well as all the people working on site.

“We hope that the local people enjoy having us here as much as we like being here.”

Councillor Jim McCabe, Leader of North Lanarkshire Council, said: “It’s been a while since the area hosted an event of this scale and there is a real buzz of excitement and anticipation as we watch the park being transformed in the run-up to Retrofest.

“We are looking forward to a fantastic weekend of music and entertainment and welcome visitors and residents alike as Strathclyde Park is reinstated as a major festival venue once again.”

For more info and tickets, visit www.retrofest.co.uk