HERE and Now summer shows are touring across Britain with a variety of eighties groups and Saturday saw the tour arrive at Harewood House, near Leeds.

The evening started with rain and more rain. The snaking queue across the fields was a colourful mass of umbrellas.

Spirits were high and people were laden down with picnics and chairs, the majority of them wearing colourful wellies from blues and greens to outrageous animal prints and spots and stripes.

Once settled in the muddy arena the audience, which consisted of all age groups, happily chatted, ate and drank while listening to music provided by a radio station.

High in the changing night sky, red kites circled above the arena and, closer to the revellers' feet, ducks waddled about happily eating scraps of food thrown to them.

The show started with Toyah Willcox (who from 1980 to 1987 had 13 Top 40 hit singles) receiving a warm welcome. Among her songs, she sang the famous its A Mystery, which every one cheered loudly at and Sweet Child Of Mine, with everyone joining in.

By now the rain had stopped and Limahl, lead singer of Kajagoogoo, appeared looking trim and smart in a pale blue suit. Among his repertoire was the No1 hit Too Shy and the famous soundtrack from the film Neverending Story.

Next on stage was Midge Ure, casually wearing a kagool, opening with his first hit, If I Was, followed by his hit with Ultravox, the classic Vienna, which received loud well-deserved applause.

Then, could things get better? Paul Young opened with Come Back And Stay and among others the famous Sensa Una Donna and Every Time You Go Away.

Sets from Go West, Belinda Carlisle and ABC helped to make it an unforgettable night.


Anne Johnson