WITH the current resurgence in popularity of music from and inspired by the 1980s, it is only right and proper that Dorset’s biggest music festival should feature one of the biggest bands from the decade of flamboyance.

Martin Fry is the frontman of the band ABC and for many people he was the voice of the ’80s after the band had blasted its way into popularity with a glitter storm of elegant, poppy songs.

On its release in May 1982 their debut album The Lexicon of Love romped straight into the UK album charts at number one, propelled by a slew of hit singles including Poison Arrow, The Look Of Love, Tears Are Not Enough and All Of My Heart.

It was, in a nutshell, a groundbreaking collection of modern love songs and is hailed as a classic as much today as it was then.

However, a generation of new music fans has been born and matured since the ABC heyday and it is these people that the band will need to win over when they play at Camp Bestival on the Friday night.

“It is great playing to an audience of people who don’t know who you are,” said Martin. “I have been in a band for 30 years and it is refreshing to go out on stage and win an audience over.

“It’s good to see that the audiences still love it – I would have thought that the ’80s nostalgia would have fizzled out by now but it hasn’t. I think it’s all down to the songs and the fact that you can go out on stage and lift an audience with them.”

During the ’80s Martin, who was born in the Cheshire town of Stockport, became famous as much for the gold suits he always wore on stage as the music his band performed.

His sartorial elegance and the smoothness of the songs hailed back to the music and fashion of a few years before.

“I loved Roxy Music and David Bowie,” he said. “Then there was the ’80s with ABC and Culture Club and Duran Duran and suddenly there was this explosion of British pop.

“It is a different scene now, with all the festival and stadium shows. They didn’t really exist to the same extent in the 1980s, so it is great to do something like camp Bestival where there is a real cross-section of audience and you see all these families having a brilliant time.”

Camp Bestival runs from Friday to Sunday, July 29 to 31, with Thursday, July 28 open for people to arrive and set up camp.

As well as ABC, the festival has as usual attracted a host of fabulous names including Blondie, Mark Ronson, The Wonder Stuff, ABC, Clare Maguire, Katy B, Eliza Doolittle, The Cuban Brothers and Ms Dynamite.

But music is just one part of the festival’s attraction. Created as a family event, there are also 100 free things for kids to enjoy, an animal farm, the East Lulworth Literary Institute, workshops and performances by the English National Ballet, fabulous food from Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, rock’n’roll chef Gizzi Irskine, plus a repeat appearance by the ever-popular Mr Tumble.

In keeping with Camp Bestival tradition, there will be fancy dress and this year’s theme is medieval, tying in perfectly with the castle and the jousting, which will be taking place throughout the weekend.

Organiser Rob da Bank – real name Robert Gorham, said: “For me, the best bit of Camp Bestival is wandering round and seeing everyone having a magical time.

“The atmosphere is great and the kids are having a great time, as are the parents and adults. Last year we had The Human League playing and it was great seeing all the kids on their parents’ shoulders, singing along.

“I think the medieval fancy dress theme will be a big hit too. The kids love that sort of stuff, and dressing up as dragons, princes and princesses.”

He added: “We added the Thursday for people to unpack and set up their camp because it can be stressful with kids.

“This year we are calling it a ‘festi-holiday’ because last year, 75 per cent of people came to Camp Bestival as part of their longer holiday. We want people to take it as part of their summer holiday and that’s how the kids see it.”

• For further details go to campbestival.net