Over 25,000 people celebrated at Henley Festival with stellar performances and celebrity guests. It’s as if they’d never been away. Hats off to the Henley Festival team.

After an incredibly challenging 18 months, the 39^th edition Henley Festival – the UK’s most glamorous black tie festival – kicked off on Wednesday 15^th September with a stellar headline performance by Seminal British pop band Madness, who gave an electric performance which was celebrated by bringing founder of the band and legendary saxophonist Lee Thompson’s mother on stage with guests including Tony Hadley from Spandau Ballet in the audience.

Henley Festival is the only festival in the UK to have a floating stage which is built on top of the River Thames, and is also the only festival in the UK when festival goers arrive by boat. With festival goers dancing the nights away, Henley Festival 2021 was attended by over 25,000 people.

On Thursday, Henley Festival saw performances from multi-platinum selling singer-songwriter James Blunt and comic legend Al Murray with festival goers including Debbie McGee. On Friday, the third night of Henley Festival saw epic performances by queen of ‘sophisticated pop’ Sophie Ellis-Bextor and DJ Sara Cox with an energetic 80s show that sent the audience into a retro frenzy, including the festival’s host of household names including Teresa May, Michael Macintyre, Will Poulter, Katherine Jenkins, David Harewood who donned black tie to adhere the UK’s smartest summer festival. Its comedy line-up continued with and a phenomenal set from the first stand-up comedian in Britain to use a communication aid in his routines, Lost Voice Guy.

On Saturday night, lovers of Disco revelled as a collection of the world’s most iconic dancefloor hits were reimagined, reinvented by a full 36 piece orchestra, live band, singers and dancers for an amazing performance of Disco Classical, along with legendary Special Guest, Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge and comedy from runner-up on series 12 of Britain’s Got Talent, Robert White. Henley Festival’s incredible jazz line up continued with internationally acclaimed Swing band Natty Congeroo & the Flames of Rhythm.

The festival concluded on Sunday night with an unforgettable show Don’t Stop Me Now featuring West End musical stars and a full rock band. It was a magical evening of Queen, Abba and the Bee Gees in a rock and symphonic spectacular celebrating their greatest hits including Bohemian Rhapsody, Staying Alive, Mama Mia and many more. In The Jazz Club, Austrian ensemble Aureum Saxophone Quartet amazed festivalgoers with the richness and infinite array of sounds that are possible on the saxophone! The much-loved Family Sunday also provided entertainment to local families with a rich programme of theatre, music, balloon modelling and face painting amongst others. Some of the highlights include globe-trotting theatre troupe Creature Feature the unforgettable, explosive edible adventure with BBC’s Gastronaut Stefan Gates plus a special performance from Captain Cauliflower and Marvin the Mischievous Moose.

Henley Festival’s very own Jazz Club in the stunning Spiegel Tent offered dining and live jazz music before and after the main headline act. Highlights included The Boneshaker Band, Moscow Drug Club, Jazz Dynamos and electrifying live outfit The Hawkmen. Throughout the festival, the Bedouin Tent offered a taste of world music and home-grown British folk. World music highlights included Paprika, the UK’s leading Balkan band, Max Pashm who brought his infamous live show experience to Henley, and Namvula whose uplifting, emotive songs offered the Henley audience into different worlds. The Bedouin Tent also presented up-and-coming names in folk music, including Julu & Heg, award-winning fiddle player Henry Webster. singer-songwriter and guitarist Elliott Morris, folk duo Nicola & Jim and Charlotte Campbell.

BBC Music Introducing was created in 2007 to support unsigned, undiscovered and under the radar musicians. This year Henley Festival hosted a new local producer talent in addition to emerging bands and songwriters. Elton John and Lauren Laverne approved multi-instrumentalist Ralegh Long took to the stage on Wednesday night, followed by London based and Reading bred electronic composer Darshaan on Thursday. On Friday Henley audience enjoyed the intricate folk of Roz Firth and on Saturday the singer-songwriter Olly Chamberlain graced the stage at Pure Heaven before hitting major UK festivals in Reading and Leeds.

Once again, Michelin starred chef Angela Hartnett MBE returned to Henley Festival 2021 to run Europe’s biggest field restaurant, creating a bespoke menu exclusively for Henley, at the Riverside Restaurant. Guests also enjoyed the variety of pop ups from street food to fine dining including Garden Bistro by Jimmy Garcia, Green Box, Cluck Farmyard, BBQ Club, Gelato Henley, Jessecco Prosecco, Black Cab Coffee Company and many more.

Each night, jaw dropping firework displays designed by Titanium Fireworks were the perfect end to unforgettable evenings of music, comedy, food and art. Established 39 years ago as a classical music charity event, Henley Festival is the UK’s only black-tie festival – glamour personified – and continues to run as a non-profit organisation, supporting charitable projects at both a national and local level.  Winner of Headline Performance of the Year in 2016, Henley Festival 2021 is undoubtably the UK’s most glamorous festival.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HENLEY FESTIVAL TEAM – YOU SMASHED IT