THOUSANDS of revellers will converge on Southampton Common on Saturday for the city’s epic retro festival Let’s Rock.

Back for it’s fourth year, this fabulous fest of the ‘80’s has a stellar line-up, headed by The Human League and Tony Hadley, along with Howard Jones and Belinda Carlisle.

ABC, Kid Creole & The Coconuts, pictured, Imagination, Hue & Cry, Chesney Hawkes, Hazel O’Connor, Katrina and Living In A Box will also grace the stage at Let’s Rock Southampton 2017.

Bringing you the best sounds of the ‘80s and an action-packed day of madness from the decade that fashion forgot, party-goers will be donning their neon fancy dress for a fun-packed day.

Gates will be open by 10am. The first act is on stage at 12 noon and the music continues until 10.30pm.

Organiser Steve Haywood said around 10,000 music lovers will be attending the festival this year. Summing up the popularity of Let’s Rock he said: “You get an awful lot of entertainment packed into one day - ten or more acts from that era on stage in one day. People grew up listening to this music; everyone has a special song that means something to them and seeing these performers all these years on means so much to them.

“They probably never imagined ever seeing these people live but so many of these acts are even better than they were back in the day - and their voices just get better. Tony Hadley’s voice has certainly never sounded better.”

Excited about this year’s line-up, particularly the joint headliners of Tony Hadley and The Human League he added: “The two headliners will blow people away.

“Tony Hadley is absolutely on fire at the moment. He has such a big voice and a great set and everyone knows every song he does, plus he does a bit of David Bowie too. As for the Human League - they’re in a league of their own!

“They are such an influential band and still really exciting.”

Steve is the co-organiser of ten Let’s Rock festivals in the UK - including the new Christmas themed Let’s Rock at Wembley but he says Southampton audiences go the extra mile when dressing up in their best retro gear: “We love it when people dress up and the Southampton audience is one of the best for getting into the ‘80’s spirit.

"We even had a load of people turn up in ‘80’s aerobics gear last year when Mr Motivator ook the crowd through a work-out!”

Steve stresses that following the terrorist attack on the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester safety is top of the agenda as always and he advises people to travel light to avoid too many delays with security checks.

“In the light of the Manchester Arena terrorism attack I must stress security has always been of paramount importance but it is even more so now.

"So we are working even closer with the police and safety advisors to ensure everyone is as safe as possible.

"We are asking people to only bring what’s necessary with you.

"People can bring picnics but please try and limit items you bring as everything is being checked.”

There will be pat downs and sniffer dogs and festival goers are not allowed to bring their own alcohol to the event or any glass. Soft drinks can be brought in that are unopened.

If they are half open they will be asked to throw them in the bin. People can bring a picnic but they will be checked; you can’t bring anything like sharp knives.

THE LET’S ROCK SOUTHAMPTON LINE-UP:

THE HUMAN LEAGUE are probably more highly regarded in 2017 than they were in 1981 when they released their landmark album Dare! They’re used to everyone from Madonna to Moby, Pet Shop Boys to Robbie Williams, citing them as an influence. Now the dubstep generation – notably, the acclaimed Darkstar, who cover the League’s 1982 B-side You Remind Me Of Gold on their album, North – have begun to pay homage to the original sound of Sheffield.

They’re the band who gave us the Christmas Number 1 single Don’t You Want Me in 1981, who have had four Top 10 albums and eight Top 10 singles in the UK as well as two US Number 1 singles and sold 20 million records worldwide.

Former Spandau Ballet frontman TONY HADLEY was a huge hit at Wickham Festival last summer with all the band’s 80s crowd-pleasers. Fans can look forward to singing along to True, Gold and Through the Barricades.

Born in Southampton, HOWARD JONES will be making a return to perform hits including What Is Love? and Hide and Seek.

Enormous international hits like Heaven is a Place on Earth, Summer Rain, Leave a Light On, Circle in the Sand and (We Want) The Same Thing will feature in BELINDA CARLISLE’s set.

ABC’s debut album The Lexicon of Love crashed straight into the UK album charts at number one. Showcasing the hits songs Tears Are Not Enough, Poison Arrow, The Look Of Love and All Of My Heart, the ground-breaking collection of modern love songs remains a classic to this day.

For over 30 years, KID CREOLE & THE COCONUTS have been entertaining sell out crowds around the world. Their live shows have become the stuff of legend.

With classic tracks like Body Talk, Three piece IMAGINATION had hits in 28 countries, earning four platinum discs, nine gold discs and more than a dozen silver discs around the world between 1981 and 1983.

Brothers Patrick and Gregory Kane formed HUE AND CRY in 1983. The duo made a huge impact in the late 80s with the albums Seduced and Abandoned and Remote as well as massive hit singles such as Labour of Love.

In 2001 CHESNEY HAWKES embarked on a ‘mini’ tour with his four piece band. Initially intended to take in five dates, the touring has never stopped as everyone in the land wants to hear him perform The One and Only.

HAZEL O’ CONNOR has fast re-established herself as an artist and performer to be reckoned with. Hazel Sings Breaking Glass Live has seen her make her long awaited return to the West End stage to perform the whole soundtrack for the first time this year.

Katrina Leskanich is the lead singer from the Grammy nominated band, KATRINA & THE WAVES.

In 1985 Walking on Sunshine was a top ten hit all around the globe and has since featured in countless advertisements and films including, High Fidelity, Secret of My Success, American Psycho and Walking on Sunshine and it’s been covered by Dolly Parton and was a mash up with Beyonce’s Halo sung by the Glee cast.

Hear it 30 years on by the original voice behind a classic.

Pop-funk group LIVING IN A BOX boomed onto MTV early in 1987 with a song named after themselves. This years sees Living In A Box touring again with Chrysalis label mate and long-time friend Kenny Thomas taking over the lead vocals.

They will be playing all their hits, top album favourites and songs that have influenced them over the years.

Children can enjoy circus workshops with the Bigtopmania Circus, a funfair, face painting and crafts at the family friendly festival.

Tickets for the retro day out are on sale from letsrocksouthampton.com