MUSIC associated with the 1980s has enjoyed a comeback in recent years.

Current chart-topping acts such as Lady Gaga and La Roux have been inspired by the decade’s synthesizer-based tunes.

Joanne Catherall, of The Human League, believes the current financial climate could be linked to that trend.

The singer, whose group is set to headline Tatton Park’s picnic concert, said people craved catchy pop tunes to dance and sing to during troubling times.

“It’s quite a happy style of music,” she said.

“People have such rubbish in their lives now they actually don’t want to be listening to something depressing.”

On Sunday August 2 Tatton Park is hosting its ‘Back to the 80s’ event as part of this year’s picnic concerts.

The performers will include Heaven 17, Go West, ABC and Belinda Carlisle.

At the end of the night The Human League will take to the stage.

They plan to perform hits including Tell Me When, One Man in My Heart and Don’t You Want Me.

Joanne said the group enjoyed playing new songs.

But they still concentrate on performing their hits at gigs such as the Tatton Park concert.

“We’re quite fortunate because we’ve been going so long we can fill a concert with songs everyone knows,” she said.

“We don’t get bored performing them. We always keep the songs the same so they’re recognisable.”

Joanne was one of two new women singers to join The Human League in 1980.

But back then she never expected to be playing a gig at Tatton Park almost 30 years later.

“We just saw it as a fun thing to do. We never thought long term about it,” she said.

The Human League enjoyed chart success with a string of synthesizer-based tunes in the early 80s.

They later made a comeback in 1994 with the album Octopus.

Since then the band has not enjoyed as much commercial success.

But Joanne said they were determined to carry on touring and recording.

“No one was going to make us give up because we weren’t selling as many records as we once were,” she said.

The Human League’s members now have families and do not socialise as much outside work.

But she said they all still enjoyed being together for weeks on tour.

“I don’t think you could survive in a group if you didn’t get on,” she said.

The Back to the 80s concert will open at 5pm and the music will start at 7pm.

Partygoers can enjoy their picnics and later a fireworks display.

On Saturday August 1 the Halle Fireworks and Light Spectacular will also take place at the 1,000-acre estate.

For tickets call 0844 847 1554 or 0871 386 1119.