Elton John, Dame Shirley Bassey and more lead Henley Festival lineup

Henley Festival, the UK’s most glamorous boutique festival, returns to its stunning setting along the river in Henley-on-Thames from 6th – 10th July 2016 with tickets going on sale to the general public on Thursday 25th February at 10am.
 
THE FLOATING STAGE 
As one of the most decorated and recognisable names in British music, we are delighted that Elton John and His Band will open Henley Festival 2016 on Wednesday 6th to a sold out audience, whilst one of Britain’s greatest-ever entertainers Dame Shirley Bassey will be teaming up with Brit-Award winning vocal group BLAKE on Saturday 9th. Legendary multi award winning singer song writer Elvis Costello & The Imposters will keep the party going on Thursday night when they take to the floating stage. Friday night will see the festival return to its classical roots with legendary Welsh Opera singer Bryn Terfelperforming with the Welsh National Opera Orchestra. Finally everyone’s favourite singer-songwriter Will Young will bring Henley Festival to a momentous close on the Sunday night.
 
Will Young said: I’m really very excited to be closing Henley Festival on the Sunday night. I had such fun playing there last time, it’s such a beautiful setting on the banks of the river Thames, not to mention headlining alongside one of my favourite people, Sir Elton John.
 
One further act headlining the festival on Saturday 9th July is yet to be announced.
 
RONNIE SCOTT’S
Brand new for 2016, legendary jazz club Ronnie Scott’s will be making the festival their home for the full five days.  Festival goers will be treated to the full Ronnie Scott’s experience, seated at cabaret style tables they will be able to watch performances by the stellar Ronnie Scott’s Allstars under the guidance of Jazz maestro James Pearsonwhile waiters discretely serve cocktails and show stopping food.
 
NEW MUSIC STAGE
Also hugely exciting for 2016 is the arrival of the New Music Stagefeaturing 10 of the brightest names in new music. Taking over the newly erected big top, Henley Festival will showcase up and coming talent with a five day programme of unsigned acts taking place before the floating stage performance each night.
 
PURE HEAVEN 
Legendary nightclub Heaven will be bringing their sister club Pure to the festival, kicking off the dancing each night as soon as the headline act finishes on the floating stage
 
Our BIGGEST COMEDY line up yet!
Shaking up its festival format for 2016, Henley will be bringing a programme of red hot British comedians to the festival, quadrupling Henley Festival’s comedy bill in size from previous years.  We are hugely excited to be announcing Al Murray, Reginald D Hunter, Nina Conti, Dillie Keane, Richard Herring, Adam Kay, The Boy with Tape on His Face, Hal Cruttenden and Simon Evans as some of the biggest names on the line up of 20 comics who will keep crowds entertained each night at the festival.
 
FOODIE FESTIVAL 
For the 2016 festival, Michelin starred chef Daniel Clifford will be taking the reins of Europe’s biggest field restaurant, creating a bespoke tasting menu exclusively for Henley, serving 950 covers a night at the Riverside Restaurant. Daniel Clifford’s astonishingly creative, flawlessly executed dishes focus on purity of flavour and reverence for ingredients. He was AA Chefs' chef of the year in 2015 and his restaurant ‘Midsummer House’ in Cambridge holds two Michelin stars, garnering widespread acclaim and cementing his reputation as one of the best chefs in Britain.
 
Daniel said: I am incredibly excited to work at such an iconic event as Henley. The Riverside Restaurant will be the fine dining offering for guests with dishes such as Sautéed scallop, granny smith apple, celeriac and perigold truffle puree and Seared Cornish mackerel, piccalilli Chantilly, pickled white cabbage
 
For festival goers who prefer to eat on the go, there are plenty of other food options. Ronnie Scott’s will offer superb steaks, Ronnie style burgers and gorgeous fish pie with a fine dining twist. A stalwart of the festival, Paul Clerehugh will be with us throughout the week with his bespoke festival menu at The Crooked Billet, offering fantastic British food using locally sourced seasonal ingredients. Cooking up a storm of authentic Indian food, Hasan & Bashir deliver Northern Thali to hungry festival goers at Spice Merchant Pop-Up. For street food enthusiasts, head to The Top for a diverse mix of cuisine and a never ending banquet of first class food to go.
 
Legendary events company rhubarb are confirmed as the food partner for Henley Music Festival 2016 and will be managing the catering for theRiverside Restaurant, Ronnie Scott's, and The Terrace. Glen Sutton, Director of Events for rhubarb said: We are delighted to partner with Henley Music Festival. This is an exciting addition to our events portfolio and our culinary team are preparing a range of beautiful and delicious menus to further enhance what is set to be a fantastic few days of music and celebrations.

 
DIGITAL CABARET & STREET THEATRE
Embrace a revelry filled night of the surreal and the beautiful as you encounter Henley Festival’s international collective of street theatre entertainers, cabaret stars, buskers and entertainers.
 
From deeply silly giant kangaroos to a lifelike family of gorillas, a troupe of hairy angels and a provocative exhibition of hair art, Henley Festival’s enchanting roving troupe of street theatre entertainers interact with festival goers offering delights, surprises and mesmerising performances throughout the festival.
 
For lovers of cabaret and circus, Henley has teamed up with the UK’s leading circus technology troops to offer a dazzling show of LED lit circus and cabaret performances as part of the all new Digital Cabaretin the brand new Big Top stage. From neon lit flapper girls and fairy dust ballet dancers, to mesmerising digital hoops and jugging displays, fans of La Clique, La Soiree and Cirque de Soleil will not be disappointed!
 
VISUAL ARTS
Henley Festival’s visual art offering has grown from strength to strength in the last decade, and the festival prides itself on supporting independent artists and galleries. In 2016 the festival will showcase contemporary art installation and sculpture across the festival site as well as hanging works by leading photographers and painters in a series of pop up galleries dotted around the festival. Artists lined up include installation artists Aether & Hemera, Goldie, Illuminati and sculptorsDanu and Dawn Benson.
 
FAMILY SUNDAY
Not just for grownups, Sunday at Henley festival is Family Day, where kids can enjoy festival site and interact with children’s entertainers, musicians, comedians and street entertainers including Beatbox starShlomo, comedy from Jay Foreman, and leading circus company, Upswing as well as taking part in crafting sessions and making art, while parents can relax in the stunning festival grounds.
 
THE CHILDREN’S SOCIETY
Henley Festival and The Children’s Society are working in partnership to bring inspiration and vital support to thousands of children who care for their parents and family members. The Children’s Society is a national charity that runs local services, helping children and young people when they are at their most vulnerable, and have nowhere left to turn. We also campaign for changes to laws affecting children and young people, to stop the mistakes of the past being repeated in the future. Our supporters around the country fund our services and join our campaigns to show children and young people they are on their side.

Henley Festival lineup and ticket details

 

tom jonesLegendary Welsh singer Tom Jones opens this year’s unmissable Henley Festival (6 -10 July).  Tickets ranging from £35 – £110 go on sale today [1 March]:  www.henley-festival.co.uk

The festival is the UK’s best summer party – a five night, star studded, black tie event on the banks of the river Thames in the beautiful town of Henley-on-Thames.  Tom Jones and the other headline acts, including Jools Holland, Alexandra Burke, Rumer, Blake, and ABBA Symphonic, will entertain fans from floating stage on the river, against the backdrop of the Henley skyline. 

The riverside setting provides an intimate environment for festival goers to experience magical summer nights.  Each evening, over twenty acts from the world of jazz, opera, classical and theatre, from the UK and abroad, perform live music and comedy.  The Roving Company of Eccentrica entertain you as you wander through art galleries and sculpture lawns. 

Later on, watch a dazzling firework display, then follow the revellers to Chinawhite Club
and party late into the night.

For elegant dining, book a table at Albert and Michel Roux’s Riverside Restaurant, the largest a la carte restaurant in Europe, along with other inviting riverside restaurants and bars. 

“This is a festival both for the connoisseur and the party goer. International performers combine with a jewel box of spectacular acts throughout the five days in a magical location on the banks of the Thames.”says Stewart Collins, Artistic Director  

There’s nothing like the Henley Festival. The beautiful setting and the intimate performances make it the best summer party you can imagine,” says Tom Jones

Tickets and Dining:

  • Choose from reserved Grandstand seats or unreserved Lawn deckchairs for the main Floating Stage concert from £59 each.
  • Promenade tickets (from £35 each) provide standing room for the main concert.
  • All Henley Festival goers enjoy live performances in the Cafe du Soir and the Salon plus a free pass to seven art galleries, sculpture lawns, eccentric roving street acts such as the Art Tart, a spectacular fireworks display, plus dancing in China White nightclub.
  • Dine in style at Albert and Michel Roux’s Riverside Restaurant or the less formal Terrace Restaurant and Café du Soir. Or choose casual outdoor eateries like Heston Blumenthal’s Hinds Head at Henley, the Chinese Garden and other venues for light bites.
The Programme:
Gates open at 6pm, when you’ll rub shoulders with well known faces, fellow culture seekers and artists, while sipping champagne in elegant, stylish, black tie and evening dress. View sculpture, including the iconic Alice in Wonderland by Salvador Dali, live ice sculpting and works by artists ranging from Peter Blake to John Piper, and dance into the wee hours at Chinawhite nightclub. 

Henley Festival Box Office:  01491 843404 or book via www.henley-festival.co.uk