Dust off your acid-wash jeans, fingerless gloves and leg-warmers - the '80s are back and they're headed for the Illawarra.In a major coup for the region, Wollongong has been named as the official birthplace of the Rewind 80s Festival in Australia.Up to 40,000 retro fans are expected to pile onto Bluescope Field at Kembla Grange over three days in October (28 - 30) to see some of the world's biggest '80s music megastars hit the stage.The festival has already proved a winning format in the UK, launching to a 30,000-strong crowd in 2009.Should it prove a success in Australia, organisers are hoping to replicate the festival next year in three other states.More than a dozen high-profile acts have already been confirmed for the inaugural Illawarra event and further announcements are expected in August.Bananarama, Mental as Anything, Pseudo Echo, Human League and Kool and the Gang will be among the big names taking to the stage throughout the weekend."We're also looking at doing something they don't really do in the UK, we're looking at putting some instrumental acts on for the Friday night," event promoter Shane Sanderson said."We're also planning to have a lot of gimmicky things, a collection of street entertainers and a lot of fun things to do, because we really want to keep people entertained all weekend."Accommodation and bar facilities will be top-notch, with "glamping" in deluxe teepees and tents expected to appeal to the more mature festival crowd.Although the average market will be those aged between 30 and 50, Mr Sanderson said the UK festival was surprisingly popular with Generation Y music fans."There seems to be this big revival of music from this era and quite a bit of today's music seems to come from the '80s."Although guarded when asked about predicted crowd numbers, Mr Sanderson said organisers had secured a licence for 40,000 people per day.Prices for a one-day ticket start from $55.Tickets will go on sale on July 25 at www.moshtix.com.au.