THE FLOATING STAGE
On Thursday, the Floating Stage will host Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Mark Feehily, aka the most successful Irish boyband of all time: Westlife. With 36 #1 albums worldwide, Westlife are the UK’s top selling group of the 21st century. They are one of pop music’s most influential boy bands and have sold six million concert tickets worldwide and counting. Westlife will thrill the Henley crowd with their chart-topping hits including Flying Without Wings, World of Our Own and Uptown Girl.
JAZZ & SWING in the Spiegel Tent & Jazz Club
Known for their authentic vintage style and expert musicianship Thursday’s line-up features the UK’s finest swing musicians Boulevard, followed by celebrated jazz, swing and blues ensemble Palace Avenue, who will transport the audience to the golden age with their top-tapping, big band stylings
WORLD & FOLK in the Bedouin Tent
Lauded singer and songwriter Tom Speight will share a performance packed with sunny song titles, boisterous guitars, shimmering electronics and lashings of beautiful backing vocals before celebrated pop rock group Eddie & The Murphys ring in the evening with an energetic set of music spanning six decades, from Bruno Mars to The Killers
AWARD-WINNING COMEDY in the Spiegel Tent
On the bill on Thursday is one of the UK’s best comics, Jo Brand star and writer of Getting On, the BBC’s BAFTA award-winning series set on a hospital’s geriatric ward, who will be entertaining the crowd.
FESTIVAL FOR FOOD LOVERS
Proud to support British farming and seasonal, locally sourced produce, ‘Dish’ will return to the stunning Riverside Restaurant this year, offering festival goers an outstanding fine dining experience of exceptional quality and innovative design.
From fine dining to street food, the raft of pop-up bars and restaurants adorning the riverside is sure to tantalise all taste buds!
VISUAL ARTS SHOWCASE
Henley Festival is celebrated for bringing visual art to the forefront: breaking the mould of traditional art displays at festivals with innovative installations curated by some of the UK’s most talented artists, photographers and galleries.
From fine art, ceramics and sculptures to photography, prints and paintings, this year’s impressive visual arts programme is bigger and better than ever before with work presented by the likes of Panter & Hall, Woolf Gallery, Turner Perspective, Maria Morrow and world-renowned artists Tommy Gurr and Nina Brooke.
The visual artists taking part in Henley Festival’s new charitable initiative RISE will also be showcased at this year’s riverside edition, including Morag Caister who is an award winning London based figurative portrait artist working mostly in oils and pastel on paper and calico, or raw canvas, and this year’s winner of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year.
SPECTACULAR FIREWORKS
Each iconic evening at Henley Festival is brought to a jaw dropping conclusion with a spectacular firework display designed by the passionate pyrotechnic professionals at Titanium Fireworks, the team behind some of the UK’s biggest firework shows.
Shows include The Mayor of London New Year’s Eve celebrations, Edinburgh’s Hogmanay, Liverpool River of Light, Hull 2017 City of Culture, England 2015 Rugby World Cup, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the London 2012 Olympics.
Henley is the only music Festival working with Titanium, and are the perfect partner for the magical and unforgettable memories made on the Henley-on-Thames riverside.
For more information and how to book visit:
Organiser
Henley Festival is an exclusive boutique black tie festival which takes place over five days celebrating the best of UK and International music and arts. The festival is a truly unique event. It embraces a vibrant programme from pop to world music, classical to jazz where art and gastronomy share equal billing with music.
We are as passionate about making a difference, as we are creating the best ingredients for our festival year on year – as a team – striving to merge great music, food, comedy and art into unique experiences that create unforgettable memories for our guests, sponsors and partners.
Last year, to coincide with our 40th anniversary, we launched RISE, the initiative to inspire and support the next generation of talented performers and technicians hoping to work in the creative arts industry. RISE provides paid opportunities for young up-and-coming musicians, comedians and visual artists. We also seek to support the young backstage staff of the future by offering paid work experience with leading lighting and sound companies, and in marketing and PR. Supporting young local emerging talent is something we’re all proud to be a part of, because our community helps define us and helps shape what we do with the festival every year.
We believe that anyone who comes into contact with our festival is important, be it a member of our team, a performing artist, a guest, or someone that benefits from the support of our RISE programme. We never lose touch with the reason why we set the festival up in the first place – to give others, the support and opportunity to feel special too.