Those behind James Dean Events should give themselves a big slap on the back for making the Back to the 80s and 90s Festival one of the most successful events of this year's musical calendar - well for me, anyway!

Thousands of fans old enough to appreciate brilliant music from the 1980s and 1990s – and their children - made their way into Cattows Farm, near Coalville, for a weekend billed as one of the greatest pop act line-ups in many years. And for those who love cheese - it did not disappoint.

There were many surprises over the weekend, including Sunday’s headliners B*Witched stunning a bemused crowd when leaving the stage having not performed their biggest hit. But, fear not, having successfully fooled everyone they returned for an encore to perform C’est Va Vie – but with a bit of Ed Sheeran mixed in. A bit of Ed is always bound to be a winner.

Thousands turned out for the weekend

Anthony Costa, of Blue fame, nervously managed to delight the crowd with his solo performance showcasing the boyband's biggest hits by himself. He didn't need his bandmates in the end. Mind you, with thousands of people in the audience singing along too, he didn't need to try too hard.

Keeping with the boyband theme, whose posters were pinned to many a teenage girl's bedroom in the 1990s, was 5ive. And it didn't matter one bit that there are now only three in the band.

Dr and the Medics was just one of the many acts at the weekend

Sean, Scott and Richie's vocals were pitch perfect (as we needed them to be) and delighted the crowd with their 15-year-old dance routines. But who cares when you're standing in the middle of a field, dancing along in your wellies, wearing double-denim with a pint of cider in your hand?

And I have now fallen in love, all over again, with A1. I thought I only remembered maybe one or two songs by Paul, Ben, Christian and Mark, but the boyband, who I am happy to report have matured excellently, kept the hits coming and my teenage years suddenly returned.

S Club 7 played their famous hits to the crowd

Ending the boyband appearances - I know, we were lucky - was 911. The trio returned to teach us all the Bodyshake once again. Pushing into their 40s now, they still managed some breakdancing which I would only contemplate doing, having consumed several vodkas.

Another pop sensation was S Club 7. Again, only sporting three members of the band, they also had back-up from the thousands of eager fans they were performing to.

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A few years ago these bands would have packed-out stadiums but now we had them all to ourselves in one field. And, this time, we had the excuse to wave glowsticks, covered in glitter, tying our hair back in scrunchies. Or, if you're me, deciding which colour leg-warmers would match my polka-dot wellies the best.

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While we were swooning over the boybands, we also had the solo artists. Who doesn't love a bit of Chesney Hawkes' The One And Only? His one-hit wonder has kept him a festival favourite even 20 years later and he is still creating his own music – which we got to hear. Along with The One and Only, of course – or there might have been a riot.

B*Witched were the Sunday headliners

Another 'one hit wonder' was The Cheeky Girls. Remember the twins from Popstars: The Rivals? The Cheeky Song sold 1.2 million copies and, during this weekend, I was reminded just how good I secretly thought it was.

There was also lots to cater for the 1980s music lovers in the crowd. T'Pau got us all in the karaoke mood, while Dr and The Medics made us feel we had stepped into The O2 arena. Could we really be seeing so many stars in one place? The Saturday evening was topped off with a performance from Heaven 17.

The festival was held over three days

The 1980s and 1990s wouldn't be complete without a tribute to Michael Jackson and because the real one is no longer with us, we had literally the next best thing – Navi. He kept us all up dancing and moonwalking the nightalong.

Throughout the festival DJs, including Pat Sharpe, were playing 90s and 00s dance classics, but hats off must go to The Video Geeks. They filled in the gaps between artists on the main stage with Saturday Night (yes, the entire field joined in), Fresh Prince, a bit of Take That, and 'you name it they had it'.

Anthony Costa came without his Blue bandmates

The main festival itself didn't disappoint. Hearing the horror stories about people abandoning wellies in mud, as a camping newbie I was nervous, but I probably had the best introduction. Everyone was kind and helpful, and dancing along with us. The toilets were well stocked and well-aired.

Nowhere on the site was too crowded, there was brilliant entertainment and there was a nice and dry dance tent for when the drizzle started on Friday night. Next year the Vengaboys will be returning. Oh, and of course I will be back, with even more legwarmers and perhaps one or two fancy dress outfits.

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