Wentworth Music Festival preview: When Toby (and Steve) met Tony

The BBC Radio Sheffield presenters travelled to speak to ex-Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley about topping the bill at this year’s Wentworth Music Festival — before the 80s legend sealed the deal by showing off his powerhouse voice.

“We talked about how long he would be on for. We told him an hour and he said: ‘I’ll bring a live band and let’s do an hour and a half’,” said Toby.

“Afterwards, we went to see him in concert.

“He’s got some pipes on him, I can tell you.

“He’s a lovely bloke and his voice is just amazing, too. I can’t wait for everyone to see him.”

Last year’s festival on the front lawn of Wentworth Woodhouse — which featured Right Said Fred, Scouting for Girls and Toploader — will take some topping.

Toby (centre left) and Steve (centre right) with Scouting for Girls at last year's festival 

But Toby and Steve have compiled a packed bill of acts from the last four decades for this year’s music-filled day on Saturday, June 15.

S Club, Republica, Doctor and the Medics and Big Shaun from The Everly Pregnant Brothers will all make an appearance on the main stage compered by CBBC favourites Sam and Mark, alongside and top producer Eliot Kennedy and special guests including Lee Ryan from boy band Blue.

“There may be more as we don’t know who else Eliot is going to bring — believe me, if he was bringing Gary Barlow I’d be shouting it from the rooftops,” said Toby.

Soul Sensation and Abba Revival will also return, as will comic Justin Moorhouse, who joins a busy line-up in a comedy tent also hosting Upstart Crow’s Rob Rouse, Toby’s Phoenix Nights’ co-star Steve Royle, Ivan Brackenbury, Nina Gilligan and Mandy Knight.

The New Music Arena is making a comeback, with Kiziah and The Kings, Elephant Trees, Mollyanna, Broken Flowers, Fear Lies, Cry, Graceful Harmony and Altamont, while the kids’ comedy tent has been revamped as a children’s “village” featuring fun circus workshops as well as entertainers.

As reported on these pages last month, the festival mark the D-Day landings’ 75th anniversary with a flypast from the PA474, the UK’s only remaining air-worthy Lancaster Bomber, and Toby said he hoped to have another surprise treat up his sleeve.

“Steve and I are both local lads and it’s a real labour of love for us,” he added.

“We’re really looking forward to it.”

The festival runs from 11am to 9.30pm.

Tickets priced at £45 for adults, £10 for under-12s and free for under-fours are available in person from the Village Shop in Wentworth, the Horseshoe Pub in Harley and Bach Hairdressers in Chapeltown and online at www.wentworthmusicfestival.co.uk.