WHEN Nathan Moore takes to the stage at the Livewire Festival in Blackpool over the August Bank Holiday weekend alongside fellow Eighties stars Jason Donovan and Pepsi and Shirley he certainly won’t have far to travel.

For the Brother Beyond lead singer, who had a massive hit with The Harder I Try, has made his home in Lancashire where he is settled with his wife and six-year-old son Nico.

“The people are fantastic,” he said. “I’ve got some really good friends and I enjoy the life up here.

“At weekends during the summer, my normal routine is trekking around the country to some 80s festival or retro event where I’m singing The Harder I Try. So to have one close to home like Livewire makes a nice change. I’m hoping my wife and son will be able to make it across.”

Nathan remains surprised but delighted that the music of the Eighties has such a hold on today’s music lovers.

“The Harder I Try was 29 years ago, yet this summer is as busy as ever,” he said. “It’s amazing. I love doing festivals like Livewire. People come along and those songs take them back to a moment in their life that was important to them.

“It happens to me too. Last year I did some shows with the Human League and as soon as they started to sing Don’t You Want Me? I was back to my 17-year-old self.

“Now I’m seeing some younger faces in the crowds, the children of the children of the Eighties who have grown up with their parents’ music.

“Livewire is going to be a real family occasion.”

Nathan will be performing as part of Pete Waterman’s Hits Factory, introduced by the legendary producer himself and featuring Jason Donovan, Sam Fox and Sinitta.

“The last time we were all together was in 2012 at London’s O2 which was amazing, so to have another get together in the North West will be great.

“Festivals like Livewire are a celebration of those great songs. I’m not really looking to put out new material. I love doing this and it gives me the freedom to do the school run with my six-year-old. It’s all about getting the right balance.”

After Brother Beyond, Nathan joined World’s Apart and the band had huge success in France notching up two number one albums and five number two singles.

“It was bizarre,” he said. “I would get the Tube to Heathrow at weekends and when we landed in France it would be mayhem.

“There would be hundreds of girls there and we’d have all this security. It was a mad weekend of work and TV shows. I was once driven to the airport in an ambulance because they had to smuggle us a out of the venue.

“Then I’d land at Heathrow and there would be nothing. I’d get on the Tube thinking ‘if only these people knew what sort of weekend I’d just had’.”

With the summer festival season in full swing, Nathan knows he’s got thousands of fans looking forward to seeing him live.

“I am lucky and I know it,” he said. “It really works for us. My wife has a more conventional job which allows me to cook the dinners then I get to go off at the weekend and have fun. I have a good balance of life. I’ve got to say life’s pretty perfect.”

Nathan Moore is part of the Hits Factory Live, Livewire Festival, Blackpool Headland Arena, Saturday, August 26. On Friday, August 25 the festival features The Jacksons and on Sunday, August 27 Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff. Details from 0871 220 0260 or www.livewirefestival.co.u