80s Strike Back Concert, Odsal Provident Stadium, Saturday 25 May 2013

My husband and I attended this concert last night at Odsal Stadium and what a wonderfully sunny day for it (shame once the sun went down, it felt like October - I only mention this because of some of the outfits people were wearing, there must have been some seriously frozen people by the time the concert finished at 11pm).  At one point the host said that there were over 8,000 people there and it certainly felt like it as I searched the crowds for the different costumes.  There were a myriad of girls in neon tutu's, legwarmers and wigs and boys in white with 'choose life' t-shirts or bright tracksuits.  There were also plenty of 'Boy George's' and 'Madonna's' (one even had the pointy cones).  I spotted some leopard-skin print suits, 'Adam Ant's' and 'MJ's' along with 'Tina Turner's' and 'Richie Sambora's.'  There were plenty of mullets and deely boppers and the most bizarre, a Thunderbird and an Oompah Loompah!

The concert kicked off half an hour later than scheduled (7.30pm instead of 7pm) with Sonia who looked amazing considering she is the same age as me and she really set the party going with her well-known songs, as well as a medley of others. 

Altered Images followed with Claire Grogan (of Gregory's Girl) who has a decade on Sonia, but she was still giving it her all in her beautiful white dress.  Her daughter accompanied her on guitar and I have to say the house band were amazing, particularly the main backing singer who was also playing the bongo's (as referenced by headline act Rick). 

Go West followed, who went down a storm when they played 'We Close our Eyes,' 'King of Wishful Thinking' and 'Call Me' amongst others. 

Roland Gift of the Fine Young Cannibals was next, who seemed to have a couple too many songs compared to the others as his set seemed to go on too long (I think once he'd sung 'Good Thing' and 'She Drives Me Crazy' he brought the mood down a little with a couple of more depressing numbers, which was a shame as those prior had worked so hard to keep the party atmosphere). 

The Real Thing were next, who went all out to get the party back with hits including 'Can You Feel The Force' and 'Whenever You Want My Love' and then it was Belinda Carlisle's turn.  For a woman of 54 she looked amazing in her gorgeous outfit and kept the crowd uplifted with her hits 'Circle In The Sand,' 'Heaven Is A Place On Earth' and others, including her new single 'Sun.'

Then it was time for the main act, Rick Astley and I have never seen so many women get so excited when he came on stage (except for maybe a Michael Buble concert) and he sure seemed pleased at the reaction, asking the women several times to 'shake it for him' and 'give him some sugar.'  He sang quite a few of his hits, 'She Wants To Dance With Me,' 'Cry For Help', 'Together Forever' and of course, he finished with 'Never Gonna Give You Up.'

Yes it was cheesy, but it was also great fun and I hope more concerts will be held at this venue in the future.  If any of my followers fancy going back in time and attending the forthcoming 80s Strike Back Concert in Lytham Green on 2 August 2013, the line-up will include Jason Donovan, Heaven 17, Claire Grogan, Sonia and Marc Almond, tickets are available now on TicketMaster.  If it's as good as the Bradford one, it is well worth the price.