Despite dark clouds and drizzle threatening to turn into something more ominous, Saturday, August 17, at 2013's Rewind Festival was no less exuberant and enjoyable than any of the previous years' events.

With an energetic kick-off by opening act The Sugar Hill Gang, whom you wouldn't have guessed had only arrived in the UK hours earlier, the acts that followed included Then Jerico (whose singer, Mark Shaw, was unquestionably one of the most charismatic performers of the weekend), Kim Wilde, Steve Harley, the Blow Monkeys, Nik Kershaw... a veritable ocean of 80s pop icons with Billy Ocean himself highlighting the afternoon with an outstanding set.

The day was rounded off with a lively performance by the B-52s, running through a plethora of their best known hits and wrapping up with a Love Shack-Rock Lobster one-two punch that had the 20,000 in attendance "moving and grooving".

With bright sunshine, the hint of a breeze and comfortable warmth, the climate for the Sunday couldn't have been more different than that of the previous day. The performances were met with ongoing enthusiasm as we heard hit after hit churned out by the likes of Sonia, the Cutting Crew, Imagination, Aswad and Matt Bianco. Following a tremendous six-song set by the always excellent Go West, Blancmange provided the soundtrack for a glorious sunset over the Henley horizon. Belinda Carlisle and ABC both then delighted the audience with a collection of their most loved hits before The Pointer Sisters closed out the main-stage performances for 2013's festival.

Rewind is, however, about so much more than the artists performing. While unquestionably the music is the main attraction, the vibe and overall experience of the festival is one that is hard to rival. Perhaps it is due to the average age of the attendee skewing slightly higher than you may find at other festivals, or maybe it's the collective recollection of our earlier years, but there is an easy-going and fabulously friendly feel to every aspect of Rewind.

Smiles from strangers are everywhere you turn and banter flows freely between people who have just met. It helps that, often, one or both of them are dressed as Papa Smurf or Wonder Woman. Indeed, 'costume watching' is a highly enjoyable aspect of Rewind with a creative homage to an 80s icon always within arm's reach. This year, amidst the sea of neon and '(NAME) says RELAX' t-shirts, we were treated to the sight of the Ghostbusters, Oscar the Grouch, He-Man and She-Ra, a gaggle of Oompa Loompas, a colony of Adam Ants, and an impressive collection of Muppets. I was surprised to not see Mr. T, The Ultimate Warrior or Gizmo the Mogwai but there's always next year!

The transformation of Temple Island Meadows into a carnival village is impressive, with games and diversions to suit different ages and tastes. An inflatable church offers the opportunity for a 80s themed wedding snap (but shrewdly limits the potential of hasty, alcohol-fuelled official ceremonies!), several sub-stages offer local artists and DJs the chance to show their stuff and there is an incredible assortment of food outlets, ranging from the mundane through to the exotic. Even these outlets increase the party vibe of the event, with many of their staff donning themed costumes to serve up camp and kitsch alongside burgers and bangers, best exemplified by the "Camp Cooks" van.

Whatever the 80s meant to you, you'll feel it all over again at Rewind. For the revellers who attend year in and year out, they need no further convincing but anybody who hasn't taken the chance to experience it all before would be well advised to take the plunge next year and indulge in the welcome trip back to the 80s that doesn't require a Delorian.

ROSS WILLIAMS

Ross Williams (@rossowilliams) is a freelance writer and the author of 'The Hardcore Truth', the biography of wrestler Bob Holly. He was more than ably assisted in his Rewind Revels by Victoria Welton, (@vicwelton) who writes one of the UK's leading parenting blogs at www.vevivos.com.