Forget the Summer of Love, this year’s offering has been aptly renamed the Summer of Mud but the organiser of Rewind Festival in Perthshire says the ”show will go on”.
”Come rain or shine, the music will be playing this weekend,” event boss David Heartfield told The Courier, adding: ”Just don’t forget your wellies.”
The two-day open-air celebration of 1980s music on Saturday and Sunday is to take place at Scone Palace, which hosted the ill-fated Scottish Game Fair at the end of last month.
Stallholders from across the country were forced to pack up after just one day when the grounds became a quagmire.
The online rumour mill has been turning after yet more heavy rain this week, but Mr Heartfield moved to allay any fears. He assured the 25,000 ticketholders the gates are set to open ”whatever the weather”.
Extra steps have been taken to safeguard the site, including the installation of a semi-permanent all-weather road.
However, revellers are urged to arrive by public transport to prevent too may vehicles using the car parks.
”We have had prior warning so have been preparing for the worst possible weather it is the Summer of Mud after all,” said Rival Organisation Ltd owner Mr Heartfield on Wednesday.
”I came up here on Sunday and the site looked great because it was nice and dry. Yes, it is now raining rather heavily, but it is not worrying me too much. The forecast says it will clear up by the weekend.
”It doesn’t really matter if it’s squelchy underfoot everyone just needs to ensure they bring their wellies and waterproofs. People expect a bit of rain at open-air concerts.”
He added: ”We have invested jointly with the palace in a new 400m-long road right through the site, which should make a big difference. It links the festival’s day entrance and the campsite entrance.
”Unlike the Game Fair, we won’t have the same volume of traffic going in and out of the site and we are hoping people will make use of the shuttle buses from Perth, to help minimise any problems.
”It is set to be a great weekend and it will go ahead rain or shine.”
The near-sold out event is expected to provide a major cash boost for Perth traders suffering poor returns due to the unseasonable weather.
Ticket sales are up nearly 50% on last year and Mr Heartfield confirmed he hopes Rewind will become a firm fixture on the Perthshire calendar.
Big names for 2012 include Village People, Big Country, Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes To Hollywood, along with Dundee/Perth heroes Average White Band.
Other highlights include appearances by Scots icons Midge Ure, Jimmy Somerville and Altered Images, as well as the reformed original line-up of Five Star, The Lightning Seeds, Marc Almond, Chesney Hawkes, Roland Gift, Right Said Fred and Les McKeown’s Legendary Bay City Rollers.