Chic

Carfest 2026 – Reviewed!

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Author: Natasha Molar

When the opportunity to experience CarFest headed my way, it may seem particularly daft for me to say that I didn’t realise there would be so many cars… In my defence, the line up poster I came across on Google was music heavy; live music acts at the top, DJ’s next, comedy / celebrity listings and then a line towards the bottom actually mentioned cars, just above the cookery masterclasses and mindfulness. But the location being Silverstone circuit – a new venue for CarFest – told me there was more to bargain for than that line on the poster suggested.

Established in 2012 by that ginger bloke off the radio and telly, Chris Evans, CarFest calls itself out as the UK’s largest family fundraising festival. If you need an extra excuse to go out and have a good time, 10% of every ticket sale goes to UK children’s charities, 100% of CarFest profits. But will you have a good time? Well, along with my able 8 year-old assistant, we certainly tested as many things as robustly as we could. Including my wallet.

Saturday

(…and genuinely sorry to have missed the vocally stunning Jessie J on the Friday)

Thanks to thunderstorms not agreeing with planes just a day before the festival, we were running very behind schedule. Perhaps a blessing in disguise that we were still sheltering in the car park as the heavens opened very enthusiastically onto the poor folks of CarFest. Still, by the time we joined the fun, the organisers had been out with the bark chips and we just got away with not having to bring out the wellies. Between Kart Silverstone and Young Driver – having both the Firefly Sport Car for ages 4-8 and instructor-led driving lessons in a Suzuki Swift (or similar) for ages 9-17 – we had barely made it off the starting line and I knew I’d need deep pockets!

I managed to wrangle the child into the festival proper, starting out at Kidfest. CarFest is sectioned off into the many different areas of the festival, a handy way to experience similar things you are keen to visit – not so useful if the whole family has ideas of doing different things in the moment. But the festival site overall is easy to navigate, so get yourselves sorted for a meet up point and make the most of what you want to do or you might run out of time. We found ourselves in a controlled area with wooden pallets to saw and nail into making dens. This is the most thrilling thing to do with real tools when you are 8 years old and also hard work when you’re the mum doing the actual sawing. I did repay by repeating ‘mate, we could’ve done DIY at home.’ Always good to confirm that you are, in fact, a parenting cliché.

To move into the other festival areas, you need to cross the race track, so you can’t just head in and out at any time; it’s closed for 30 minutes at four scheduled times during the day because it is understandably frowned upon to mix pedestrians with race cars. We took this time to head up into the stand and watch some cars whizzing past before exploring the enticing promise of the tents beyond.

First up SpaFest, centre for all things relaxing, including yoga, pottery, dance, sound baths, paint and crafts, with guests such as Mr Motivator, Sally Gunnell and Mo Farah. But relaxing with an excited youngster at a festival was not on the cards, so we snuck through RetroFest – me looking back longingly at the Vintage Tea Room and the Retro record Fair – but gladly able to appreciate some absolutely gorgeous car club motors in the Classic Quarter. Seeing people being able to bring their passions along and chat to people appreciating them is I think what gives CarFest some of its friendly family vibe; and we love to hear it.

Much as I could stare at a VW Karmann Ghia all day, I pressed us forward, blinkers on to finally get to the music arena. I feared we wouldn’t catch a single act, as there was so much to do. But catch we did, with James Morrison celebrating 20 years since his debut. What a voice! As a rocker, I’ll confess that I only know his classics like You Give Me Something and Broken Strings so I was pleasantly surprised to be impressed by his vocal tone and live performance. As I looked around the arena, families that had split off for different activities earlier in the day had re-met to make the most of the rare sunshine along with the music. I was struck by the multi-generational family set-ups as people settled into their camp chairs, and that solidified for me what CarFest is about – being there with your niece who is 18 months, your Dad who is 65 and every family member in between.

Rick Parfitt Jnr was up next with his band and as I was distracted by huge bubble blowing machines on poles adding to the atmosphere, my kid was rocking his socks off. Rick plays cover songs, mostly medleys, be it I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas to Seven Nation Army by White Stripes. I can be a serious old musical sausage at times and the thought of hearing more songs in this mash up monstrosity made me itch, until I looked around. Seeing so many happy, smiling faces sing back at each other, I succumbed to getting the little on my shoulders and dancing around. It’s what its all about after all. I switched the torch onto my phone and passed it to kiddo to wave in the air to Coldplay’s Fix You and Prince’s Purple Rain. In a sweet tribute to his Dad, recognising it being 10 years this year since he passed away, Rick Jnr shared that he’d bumped into his dad’s guitar tech who was there working with Tom Jones. Soon CarFest was Rockin’ All Over the World with the advice of ‘if you don’t know the lyrics, there aren’t many, you’ll soon get the hang of it.’ Too true Rick. It felt like the band couldn’t quite finish as they moved to one more song, followed by one more song and CarFest lapped it up.

I am of an age where I recall the joke about the Sugababes was that anyone might be in them by next week, but the line-up is back to the original members performing here at Silverstone. Despite my expressed fondness for rock music, I will frown upon anyone who doesn’t admit that Freak Like Me is an absolute banger and it was great to hear it live. Focussing on our stomachs, we stayed in earshot for hits such as Hole in the Head and Push the Button – it’s not hard to figure out why the Sugababes are a pop sensation. Of course, I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole to discover that all of the band were contributing songwriters. Bravo.

James Morrison might’ve been my biggest surprise of the day, but that’s only because I already had expectations of the headliner’s legendary voice. He was even on a TV show called The Voice for goodness sake! Unsurprisingly, stalwart 86-year-old Tom Jones knows how to entertain and charm a crowd. The guitar-based ballad he was singing – I knew the words, but somehow my mental filing couldn’t quite place it until ‘Sex Bomb, Sex Bomb, you’re a Sex Bomb!’ And as the crown sang back It’s Not Unusual with gusto, it in fact was not unusual that my little man was quite tuckered out and we headed out to rest up for…

Sunday

A short walk in and we were greeted by Rock Choir near the Kart track – thank you for the warm and uplifting welcome. Back to Kidfest – of course we could not walk past – and a paid activity this time of what I can only describe as being put in with a load of balloons in a snow globe! We found ourselves with far too many things to do – from the Adrenaline Area with a climbing wall and zip line, to Pudsey’s Spot with BBC Children in Need – the little was scooted away from his new potential future in limbo to look at cars…

And boy, did we embrace being at Silverstone! Heading back across the track, we got a peep of the funny little Ford Pops (don’t @ me, I love them) racing around and doing a drift show.

Then we walked the Cars @ CarFest, adding onto our in-head car shopping wishlist. Ambling past the corporate sponsors, car makers, rally cars, everything shiny and slick…

…until we did hit a section in my price range – Hot Wheels! Alas, I had my eye on the rather wonderful full-size versions, but we played with the toys for some time while friends watched the supercars on the track. If you were quick off the mark with pre-booking, you could even run 3K of the track as part of the Festival Dash, but tickets sold out in advance. Shame. Who am I kidding? I wasn’t running…

This full size Riddler Hot Wheels Legend is a VW Beetle! Can you believe it? It was given away somewhat from the rear engine view, but even I didn’t twig initially from the front and I’ve spent long enough dealing with their special brand of nonsense as an owner…

Supercars hung out in the International Paddock and although you could look from the barrier, this wasn’t a place to get up close, as the cars were heading in and out to the racetrack. If you wanted to queue up for a Grid Walk, there was the opportunity to walk among the cars on the track once they were lined up and in position. And what does a fancy-pants person do when they want to show off their car even more? For a £100 pre-bookable donation, you could meet the owner in the paddock and sit at the wheel. If you were feeling flush – you could book a track ride for £600 upwards from Sporting Bears Dream Rides or with Road Rides starting from £20. All money in the bag for the good causes supported by CarFest.

If you wanted something a little faster, the drag teams had it covered, including the lovely folks from Santa Pod Raceway and the Junior Dragsters. I love a drag strip – the noise, the flames, the speed – but I wasn’t sold on letting my precious angel start racing, which is possible from age 8 apparently. Yeah, let’s gloss over that one…

Last bits of track action for the festival and we were thrilled to catch the drift show, where the tyres are genuinely mostly left on the track…

….as you can see clearly on the final laps of the day.

As the weekend drew to a close back in the music arena, I caught a moment of the Proclaimers who got folks up out of their chairs and singing along, which was no mean feat after a long weekend. But the kids had other ideas and so we caved and spent a small fortune in the funfair, and after too many rides the kids laid on the ground feeling sick, which tickled me more than it should as someone who gets motion sickness! Shamefully, we departed ahead of Rick Astley and headline act Nile Rogers & Chic but sometimes with kids at festivals, you just have to put their needs first. It’s a different experience but one that’s still worthwhile. As we wound our way out of the festival, 90s pop star Gabrielle was entertaining the crowds, singing perfectly Out of Reach, which is honestly how we felt about finding where we’d parked – organisers, more signage and lights for this please.

I’m not a veteran of CarFest, so I can’t compare against the previous events and what this meant for this first year at Silverstone. As a first timer, I noticed a few things I would consider before heading back. As corporate sponsored fundraising festival you definitely don’t want to be there on a budget. It’s possible, but it would affect just how much you could embrace all the fun things available (and the strain on your earholes if you are sensitive to repetitive requests of ‘I want to do that Mum!)’ and of course, you will want to be add to that lovely charity total. There’s a real feelgood factor to supporting the causes by having fun.

There is absolutely so much to do at Carfest, I haven’t even got to talking about the many stalls set out in FoodFest, the book store by Waterstones, The Author’s tent, the Tasting tent… I’d regard pre-planning as essential if you do want to attend specific events, such as the Festival Dash, and I suspect that slots to book a car ride may be limited or booked out on the day.

Overall, a jam-packed action weekend, suitable for all the family providing they have the energy or you seek accessible support – we did 17,000 steps both days and did not have the to and fro of the campsite to consider. You’d do well not to like all things and ditch folks by the track while you do a soundbath for example, but for those of us who do like all things, it’s best to accept that you won’t do all of them. And you’ll need some organisation and bags of energy to embrace as much as you possibly can.

Natasha Molar for SFG

HAMPTON COURT PALACE FESTIVAL UNVEILS FIRST WAVE OF STAR ACTS FOR JUNE 2024

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Hampton Court Palace Festival, presented by heycar has today revealed Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Paloma Faith, Sheryl Crow, Deacon Blue, Sam Ryder and a live edition of The Rest is History podcast, as the first acts on a stellar programme for the 2024 summer festival. 

Nile Rodgers is known the world over, lauded for pioneering a musical language that generated chart-topping hits like ‘Le Freak.’ Celebrated for sparking the advent of hip-hop with ‘Good Times,’ his success as an artist is unparalleled, having worked with some of the biggest names in music, and selling over 500 million albums in the process. Nile Rodgers & CHIC will return to Hampton Court Palace Festival on Thursday 13 June for a disco spectacular like no other.  Get ready to dance!

Pop and social media sensation Sam Ryder will take to the stage on Friday 14 June. He rose to stardom in 2022, when he represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest with his megahit Space Man, finishing in second place, the UK’s best result at Eurovision since 1998. The track went on to become the third best-selling song of the year, with his debut album There’s Nothing but Space, Man! topping the UK albums chart in December 2022. With legions of fans around the globe, Sam is one of the biggest artists to recently find fame and is sure to take Hampton Court Palace by storm. 

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and genre arching singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow will headline on Tuesday 18 June. Renowned for effortlessly interweaving pop, rock, country, folk, and blues throughout her music, she is one of America’s most successful artists. Having sold more than 50 million albums worldwide, she has won an incredible 9 Grammy Awards, receiving 32 nominations throughout her career. Expect a night of Rock and Roll as Sheryl Crow performs some of her best-known hit singles ‘All I Wanna Do’, ‘If It Makes You Happy’, ‘A Change Would Do You Good’ and ‘My Favourite Mistake’’. 

Deacon Blue, undoubtably one of the biggest Scottish bands in recent history, will perform a hit-packed set on Wednesday 19 June.  Having released their debut single ‘Dignity’ to great critical acclaim 35 years ago, they have gone on to pen 11 hugely successful studio albums and have an incredible 16 Top 40 hits under their belt.  Expect timeless classics such as ‘I’ll Never Fall in Love Again’, ‘Real Gone Kid’, ‘Fergus Sings the Blues’ and ‘Your Town’.

Award winning singer-songwriter Paloma Faith is one of the UK’s best-loved artists. She has released five critically acclaimed platinum-selling albums since 2009 and has won dozens of awards throughout the past decade, including a BRIT Award for British Female Solo Artist. With her revered discography including instantly recognisable tracks such as ‘Picking Up the Pieces,’ ‘Only Love Can Hurt Like This’, ‘Can’t Rely on You’ and ‘Never Tear Us Apart’, the concert will see her perform her biggest hits and tracks from her deeply personal upcoming album ‘The Glorification of Sadness’. Paloma will make her Hampton Court Palace Festival debut onThursday 20 June.  

This year, the festival will also present a live podcast for the very first time, with The Rest Is History podcast taking to the stage to fittingly host a show on Henry VIII and the Tudor period. Hosted by esteemed historians Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland, The Rest Is History podcast is the highest-ranked UK history podcast on both Spotify and Apple.  In a festival first, Dominic and Tom will be staging The Rest Is History Live Presents The Tudors, a special live edition of the popular show within the historic palace on Sunday 16 June, bringing history to life in the stunning 500-year-old courtyard.

Each spectacular night of the run, festival goers will be able to enjoy a bespoke menu of drinks alongside an incredible selection of street food amid the picturesque East Front Gardens. Guests will start their evening withlive music from up-and-coming acts on the Garden Stage, before journeying through the breath-taking Palace to watch their favourite artists play in a truly awe-inspiring setting.

To make the experience even more special, guests can pre-order one of two sumptuous picnics that can be enjoyed in the early evening sunshine. Picnic options include ‘The Courtier’s Best of British Picnic’ or ‘The King’s Gourmet Hamper’, which are both provided by British Fine Foods and feature meat and vegetarian options, as well as a bottle of fine wine or Champagne. Picnics can be conveniently pre-ordered with tickets or added to existing reservations.

Fans can also choose to take their experience up a notch with added extras such as a welcome glass of Champagne or pre-book a charming fountain-side gazebo with delicious refreshments. For those who truly want to make their festival experience extraordinary, a delectable three course dinner within Hampton Court’s State Apartments is available by selecting the King’s Dining Experience.

Now in its 28th year, the Hampton Court Palace Festival, proudly presented by heycar, is a moment of celebration in the summer calendar that showcases a series of phenomenal performances in an entirely one-of-a-kind location. The concert series produced by IMG in partnership with Historic Royal Palace, the charity that cares for Hampton Court Palace, is set against the backdrop of Henry VIII’s grand palace in the Tudor Courtyard. The festival offers an unmissable opportunity to witness legendary artists in an intimate setting like no other, accommodating only 3,000 guests. Stay tuned for more exciting artist announcements.

Pre-sale begins at 10am Friday 1 December 2023, with tickets on general sale from 10am on Monday 4 December 2023 at www.hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com

www.hamptoncourtpalacefestival.com

Facebook           @HamptonCourtPalaceFestival
Twitter                @HCPfestival
Instagram           @HCPfestival

Greenwich Summer Sounds: A New Festival For 2023

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LW

INTRODUCING A NEW MUSIC FESTIVAL FOR 2023  

AT SOUTH EAST LONDON CULTURAL HOTSPOT  

THE OLD ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE 

FIRST STAR-STUDDED HEADLINERS ANNOUNCED TODAY 

NILE RODGERS & CHIC | TOM JONES | KAISER CHIEFS 

 WITH MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED  

TUESDAY 4 JULY – SATURDAY 8 JULY 2023 

OLD ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE, GREENWICH 


 

GreenwichSummerSounds.com   

TICKETS ON GENERAL SALE MONDAY 13 MARCH 2023 

Today, IMG, the company behind The Big Feastival, Hampton Court Palace Festival, Taste of London and Hyde Park Winter Wonderland, announce Greenwich Summer Sounds, a new London music festival hosted at a stunning riverside location, the Old Royal Naval College, in the heart of Maritime Greenwich this summer.

Greenwich Summer Sounds will host multiple nights of incredible music from Tuesday 4 – Saturday 8 July, with Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Tom Jones, and Kaiser Chiefs revealed as the first headline artists, with further headliners and support acts to be announced.

Alongside the music programme, guests will be able to enjoy a range of delicious street food, and a first-class banquet dining experience in the stunning Painted Hall, one of the most spectacular Baroque interiors in Europe, at each concert. Tickets will go on sale Monday 13 March at 10AM via See Tickets with an exclusive pre-sale for registered guests. 

Joel Smith, Vice President, Arts & Entertainment at IMG, said: “We are absolutely delighted to introduce Greenwich Summer Sounds to the UK festival calendar this summer. From world-class musical talent to incredible dining experiences, we’re excited to have such an iconic venue in the Old Royal Naval College to serve as a perfect backdrop for the ultimate evening of summer fun in the city”. 

Matthew Mees, Chief Executive, Old Royal Naval College, said: “We’re delighted to welcome such an incredible line up of artists to perform at the Old Royal Naval College. It’s a truly magnificent venue for concertgoers to enjoy open-air music on a summer’s evening next to the river with views across London. Greenwich Summer Sounds is set to be a spectacular event in a beautiful and historic setting.” 

First to headline Greenwich Summer Sounds is the legendary Nile Rodgers & CHIC, who will be kicking off the multi night festival with an epic party on Tuesday 4 July.  Nile Rodgers is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and a multiple Grammy Award winning songwriter, composer, producer, arranger, and guitarist. His work in the CHIC Organization have sold over 500 million albums and 100 million singles worldwide while his innovative, trendsetting collaborations with Daft Punk, Daddy Yankee and Beyoncé reflect the vanguard of contemporary hits.  

Headlining on Thursday 6 July is the inimitable Tom Jones. The iconic Welsh legend has been releasing huge hits and playing unforgettable live shows for the last 60 years and is still going strong. From much loved classics like It’s Not Unusual and What’s New Pussycat to songs off his most recent album ‘Surrounded By Time’, Tom is sure to deliver a set to remember.  

The festival will close in epic style with Leeds indie rockers Kaiser Chiefs on Saturday 8 July. Taking over the UK charts since the release of their huge hit I Predict A Riot in 2004, frontman Ricky Wilson and his fellow Kaisers will be lighting up the stage with a plethora of hit singles including Ruby and Every Day I Love You Less and Less. 

Ricky Wilson, Kaiser Chiefs, said: “We can’t wait to headline Greenwich Summer Sounds, we’ll be bringing all our energy, see you there!” 

Greenwich Summer Sounds will seamlessly combine the very best in music, food and culture. Taking place on the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College on the River Thames, in the centre of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, Greenwich Summer Sounds is set to become one of the hottest and most revered live events in London’s music and cultural calendar.  

GreenwichSummerSounds.com  

Instagram | @greenwichsummersounds 

Twitter | @greenwichsounds 

Facebook | @greenwichsummersounds  

Henley Festival 2018 brings Grace Jones, Rita Ora, Nile Rodgers & Chic plus more

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As the UK’s only black-tie boutique festival, Henley Festival is glamour personified, offering Michelin starred food, award winning comedians, Turner Prize nominated artists and the biggest names in popular, world, jazz and classical music. Many festival goers arrive by boat, and the green lawns of the festival are transformed into a Great Gatsby vision, as black tie clad revellers spill across the festival site, champagne in hand, while fireworks explode overhead.

2018 Lineup

RITA ORA
GRACE JONES
NILE RODGERS & CHIC

CURTIS STIGERS AND THE RONNIE SCOTTS BIG BAND PRESENT ‘SINATRA AT THE SANDS’
ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA

JAZZ & SWING

RAY GELATO AND THE GIANTS | MISS KIDDY AND THE CADS

STAKS BAND | KING PLEASURE AND THE BISCUIT BOYS | PURDY

WORLD & FOLK

COAL PORTERS | SON YAMBU | JALI FILLY CISSOKHO'S COUTE DIOMBOULOU BAND | LE BISTROTET | BIKINI BEACH BAND | SOLASTA TRIO MAZ O'CONNOR | TROVADOR | MEGAN HENWOOD | AGAINST THE GRAIN

COMEDY 
PAUL MERTON | LEE NELSON | LUCY PORTER | MARK WATSON 
DOMINIC HOLLAND | JON CULSHAW & BILL DARE | RHYS JAMES
PIERRE NOVELLIE | ALFIE BROWN | ANDREW MAXWELL | THUNDERBARDS SUZI RUFFELL | FLO & JOAN | ADAM BLOOM | CHRIS STOKES | ADAM ROWE ANDY FIELD | ADAM HESS | THE CARD NINJA TINA C | VELMA CELL

BBC MUSIC INTRODUCING
ALEX GREEN | WOLF NOTE | LORNE | CECIL | PEARL TN

VISUAL ARTS
DAVID MACH | CHARLIE WAITE | ROSAMOND LLOYD

FOOD

MICHELIN STARRED CHEF
ANGELA HARTNETT MBE
CROOKED BILLETT | SPICE MERCHANT | COOKING COOKS
JIMMY GARCIA’S BBQ CLUB | THE AUDACIOUS SQUID
BLACK CAB COFFEE & COCKTAILS | THE TERRACE RESTAURANT
HOTEL DU VIN | CONO SUR | PIZZA EXPRESS
JESSICO PROSECCO | SNOB LOBSTER & CHAMPAGNE
MOËT CHAMPAGNE BAR & POP UPS

CHARITIES 

CHARLIE WALLER MEMORIAL TRUST
THE TEENAGE WILDERNESS TRUST

 
Established 36 years ago as a classical music charity event, Henley Festival continues to be run on a not for profit basis supporting charitable projects at both a national and local level. This year proceeds from the festival will go to two charities. Dedicated to supporting young people with depression, and encouraging discussions around mental health, the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust was set up in memory of a young man who took his own life whilst suffering from depression. The Teenage Wilderness Trust supports students who find it difficult to engage with mainstream education by offering reengagement courses using bush craft, wilderness learning techniques and practical life skills to encourage students to get back into learning. 
 
THE FLOATING STAGE  
Following the release of her long awaited album in Spring 2018, Rita Ora will open Henley Festival 2018 on the Wednesday night. The global pop star, with four No.1 hit songs to her name, including Radioactive and I Will Never Let You Down, will get the UK’s most glamourous festival off to an explosive start with her 2017 hit singles Kiss Me, Your Song and Anywhere.  


 

A lifelong provocateur Grace Jones will light up Henley Festival with her energetic headline set that is guaranteed to include a string of costume changes and dance-club hits including her acclaimed reinvention of Piaf’s classic “La Vie En Rose”. One of the world’s most iconic women, singers, songwriters, supermodels, actresses and infamous Bond Girl, Grace Jones’ daring and original headline set will be one of the highlights of the festival.  
 
Among music legends, Nile Rodgers is truly exceptional. He amplifies his legacy as a multi-Grammy-winning composer, producer, arranger and guitarist by constantly traversing new musical terrain and successfully expanding the boundaries of popular music. As the co-founder of CHIC, Rodgers pioneered a musical language that generated chart-topping pop hits like "Le Freak," sparked the advent of hip-hop with "Good Times,” and won CHIC eleven Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominations. More recently he has worked with Daft Punk, Avicii, Disclosure, and Sam Smith.


 
Saturday night at Henley Festival will see Curtis Stigers and The Ronnie Scott’s Big Band present ‘Sinatra At The Sands.’ Internationally acclaimed American jazz vocalist Curtis Stigers will channel the hip, swinging chemistry of Frank Sinatra and the Count Basie Orchestra for a brilliant night which will fly the Henley audience to the moon.
 
Henley Festival will close in true style on the Sunday night with one of the UK’s foremost opera companies the English National Opera performing with soloists, full orchestra and chorus and under the baton of ENO Music Director Martyn Brabbins. Their repertoire is taken from many of the greatest operas including Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro, Madam Butterfly, Turandot and La Traviata as well as a little Gilbert & Sullivan to top the night off.  
 
A STELLAR COMEDY LINE-UP
The 2018 comedy line-up is set to be bigger and better than ever, with the likes of Paul Merton, Lee Nelson, Lucy Porter, Mark Watson and Dominic Holland among the biggest names of the 25 comedians performing at this year’s Festival. The comedy line up will also include a very special evening of unscripted, unrehearsed and spontaneous comedy from Dead Ringers’ impressionists Jon Culshaw and legendary comedy producer Bill Dare in their sell-out show The Great British Take Off. In addition, up and coming comics including Suzi Ruffell, Pierre Novellie, Rhys James, Flo & Joan, Alfie Brown and Adam Rowe will also be keeping audiences entertained as well as jaw-achingly funny cabaret from Tina C and Vellma Celli.
 
JAZZ AT HENLEY FESTIVAL
Henley Festival’s very own Jazz Club in the stunning Spiegel Tent offers dining and live jazz music before and after the main headline act. Credited for helping kick off the Swing revival in the early '80s Ray Gelato and the Giants will open Henley’s Jazz Club on Wednesday night. On the Thursday Pop Noir songstress Purdy will be performing, local to Henley, Purdy has supported Lana Del Ray and Jools Holland. Friday Night will see the high-energy Soul/R'n'B band The Staks Band comprised of virtuoso players working with some of the music world’s biggest artists, the band have a lineage that defies easy description. Saturday night will see performances from King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys whose dazzling musicianship and riveting stage performances will get the crowd jiving stomping and swinging, finally on Sunday Miss Kiddy and the Cads, will provide sensational live jazz, swinging beats, toe-tapping finesse and a lot of laughter to transport you straight to 1945s swing town, bringing Henley Festival’s Jazz Club to a high octane close.
 
BBC MUSIC INTRODUCING
BBC Music Introducing was created in 2007 to support unsigned, undiscovered and under the radar musicians. Henley Festival is hugely excited to be working with BBC Music Introducing discovering breaking acts from the region, all of whom have featured across the BBC network before. 
 
Pearl, TN is a British country band with bittersweet songs of love and regret featuring Harriet James on vocals that are pure as a mountain stream. Inspired by American country artists including Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings this is one country band you don’t want to miss. Lorne is a singer, songwriter and pianist from Berkshire who released his debut EP Maze on 24th November 2017. With a sound that is a cross between Bon Iver, Brandon Flowers and Damien Rice, his gentle melodic pop and soft rock is a beauty to behold. Alex Green is a songwriter from Reading, previously the front man of the band Attention Thieves. He takes inspiration from artists within such genres as folk, country, blues and rock. Cecil is an alternate indie pop artist from Berkshire. Her debut E.P was released in April 2017 and received support from BBC Introducing, BBC Radio 2 and several other radio stations. Her debut album is due out this summer and with her music being compared to somewhere between Lana Del Rey and Kate Bush she is definitely a one to watch in 2018! WolfNote is a new acoustic folk and roots quartet from Berkshire comprising multi-instrumentalist Mike with his gammy leg, violinist and vocalist Ceri with her dodgy back, guitarist and vocalist Gill, also falling to bits and cellist and vocalist Bex, a crazy cat lady.
 
WORLD MUSIC IN THE BEDOUIN TENT 
Enter The Bedouin Tent for a taste of global world music as well as home spun British folk at its best. World Music comes from Senegalese band The Coute Diomboulou Band led by Cissokh use traditional instruments including the kora, tamma and djembe  expect an extraordinary mix of mbalax and afrobeat grounded in African traditions. Son Yambu play authentic Cuban son, the intoxicating fusion of Spanish and African rhythms that gave rise to salsa. They give this irresistible music a contemporary edge, bringing their audiences a truly, sensational, authentic Latin music experience. The Bikini Beach Band begins with one man – Jesus C. Escovedo – guitarist, revolutionary, ladies' man and 1956 All-Mexico Surfing Champion (for real). Expect rockin surf sound and chilled 1950s Mexican beach vibes. Trovador is a flamenco fusion trio with influences from Brazilian and classical music based in UK, providing a performance full of rhythm, passion and grace. Powerful and uplifting music from the virtuoso duo of guitarist Matt Sullivan and percussionist Jo May; Against the Grain will dazzle you with their stunning musical skills and exciting performances. Stirring the styles of West Africa, South America and Spain, Jo and Matt create an original blend of musical flavours.
 
FOLK MUSIC IN THE BEDOUIN TENT 
Henley will be presenting up and coming folk music names in the Bedouin Tent including “alt-bluegrass” act The Coal Porters who demonstrate the foot stomping power of fiddle, mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar and doghouse bass when matched with four-part harmonies. Winner of the 2009 BBC Young Folk Awards, Megan Henwood began writing songs in her early teens including her poignant song about relationship/abuse “White Lies”, from her debut album “Making Waves”. Firmly established in the roots scene, Maz O'Connor is a folk force to be reckoned with, the simplicity of her music recalls the starkly beautiful Cumbrian landscape of her childhood.  Solasta are an outstanding folk ensemble known for their inventive arrangements, unique sound and exhilarating live performances. Comprised of award winning fiddler Elisabeth Flett, cellist Hannah Thomas, and guitarist Jamie Leeming, their dynamic interpretations of Celtic based material are rooted firmly in tradition. Art Deco Band Le Bistrotet was formed as the result of recordings made for the soundtrack of the Oscar winning movie, The Theory of Everything, expect classic Vaudeville and European café-bar music.
 
FOODIE FESTIVAL 
For the 2018 festival, Michelin starred chef Angela Hartnett MBE will be taking the reins of Europe’s biggest field restaurant, creating a bespoke menu exclusively for Henley, at the Riverside Restaurant. Angela Hartnett’s astonishingly creative, flawlessly executed dishes focus on purity of flavour and reverence for ingredients. Angela Hartnett commented: “I am absolutely delighted to be working closely with the Henley Festival for the first time and to serve the food that I love at such a great and iconic event.” A festival for food lovers, Henley caters for all tastes offering a huge number of restaurants and pop ups from street food to fine dining. Restaurant’s popping up at the festival will include Crooked Billet, The Spice Merchant, and Brasserie @ Jazz Club in the Speigltent, alongside street food from BBQ club, Snob Lobster, Jessecco Prosecco, Pizza Express and Audacious Crispy Squid, and champagne and cocktails from Moët Champagne Bar, Black Cab Coffee & Cocktails, Hotel du Vin and many more.
 
VISUAL ARTS
Henley Festival is one of the very few festivals to showcase art work from some of Britain’s most talented artists photographers and galleries. Henley is hugely excited to announce that this year, the festival will be showcasing work from the Turner Prize nominated artist and Royal Acamadician David Mach, Britain’s father of landscape photographer and founder of the Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards, Charlie Waite, award winning sculptures Rosamond Lloyd and will also be collaborating with the contemporary art curator and aboriginal art collector Jennifer Guerrini Maraldi. More artists, galleries and curators will be announced later in the year. 
 
FAMILY SUNDAY 
And while the festival is an adult only event, Sunday daytime sees the festival turned into a huge playground for families and kids of all ages, with activities and entertainers, who captivate and enchant. 2018’s Family Sunday offers balloon making, glitter tattoos, music lessons, comedy for kids, toddler disco, choir performances as well as fantastic entertainment from TV favourites Mr Bloom,  Mr Danger and Fun & Gamz.
 
FIREWORKS 
Henley Festival is topped off each night by a jaw dropping overhead firework display. In 2018 the fireworks display will be designed by Titanium Fireworks, the team who have put on some of the UK’s biggest firework shows in the last decade including the 2012 London Olympics, the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the London New Year’s Eve Fireworks display and Hogmany in Edinburgh, as well as pyrotechnics for some of the biggest names in music including Adele, Will Smith, Coldplay and Take That. Henley Festival is currently the only music Festival which Titanium work with.

Nile Rodgers to bring Fold Festival to London

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Grammy-winning composer, producer, arranger, and guitarist Nile Rodgers brings his FOLD festival to the UK for three days in June. Curated and produced by Nile, Fold Festival is a music celebration spanning every popular genre and will be headlined by CHIC on each evening. The inaugural event took place at the scenic Martha Clara Vineyards in Long Island in August 2015 and the next instalment of FOLD will take place in the historic Fulham Palace in London this June.

FOLD festival is a unique event that will feature Rodgers and his multi-platinum band CHIC sharing the stage with music legends and contemporary trailblazers who have personally been invited by Nile to perform. Nile’s musical career has spanned 4 decades in which he has constantly traversing new musical terrain and successfully expanding the boundaries of popular music and his contact book reads like a who’s who of the most important musical innovators to the last 4 decades.

Chic mastermind and festival curator Nile Rodgers says:

‘I started FOLD Festival 4 years ago in Montreaux, Switzerland to pay tribute to the musicians that make me who I am: A collaborative ensemble composer, who knows how to throw party!’

The first night throws a spotlight on a truly incredible era of pop, with a stellar line-up of trailblazers responsible for some of the most creative and flamboyant songs in modern music. One of music’s outstanding voices, Alison Moyet will bring her critically acclaimed music to Fulham Palace to perform alongside Chic. The Thompson Twins' Tom Bailey will be playing the classic Thompson Twins hits. It will be the first time Tom and Nile have been on stage together since Live Aid in 1985 when Madonna sang backing vocals.

Saturday sees the celebrations embrace modern day pop, undeniably influenced by Rodgers acclaimed recent work for Daft Punk and Disclosure amongst others. John Newman perfectly encapsulates the modern day soul man, dominating the charts, airwaves and music collections of fans across the country and his unrelenting live show is set to be a true highlight of FOLD 2016. Having teamed up with Nile Rodgers on last year’s great single ‘Boomerang’, international pop star Emin will also be performing and makes a perfect addition to the bill. Reflecting not just the current stars but the future ones too, emerging newcomer Grace will take the stage, bringing the voice behind the phenomenal “You Don’t Own Me” to the hallowed grounds of FOLD 2016.

Sunday features the very best of funk, soul and everything in-between. Standing as an untouchable emblem of classic soul, Angie Stone will bring her unmatched vocal prowess to the stage delivering a set of acclaimed classics that show why Prince, Stevie Wonder and D’Angelo all sit as famous fans. Along with another masterclass in magic from CHIC, these names will be joined by acid-jazz pioneers Incognito, bringing an eclectic set of pulsating anthems to an evening like no other. 

Flow Festival Helsinki 2015 Review

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“Listen to your mother, kids. Aim low. Aim so low no one will even care if you succeed.” Marge Simpson was just down on her pretzels, but I was more or less headed to Helsinki expecting nothing and open to the very real possibility of having an above-average weekend.

As good an excuse as any to visit a summery Lapland, Flow Festival boasts a smattering of the hottest international acts performing at a disused power station dipping toes in the Baltic Sea. CHIC featuring Nile Rodgers is a highlight. The denizens of disco have mastered the art of the organised hand clap; it’s good, clean fun for legitimately old-school hits ‘Everybody Dance’ & 'I want your love'. Nile intros Daft Punk track ‘Get Lucky’ with a few words about his own cancer, explaining how he threw himself into making more new music because “If I die, I wanna die living!” Cue bass. This reviewer finds herself ushered on stage with a clutch of other revellers to finish the set grooving to ‘Good Times’. It’s a gimmick the band is known for but hey, for fifteen seconds of fame I play along.

There’s a no-drinks policy at the front of the main stage & it’s a winning strategy to eliminate a heap of tension. Still, the dancing is thirsty work & the Bulleit cocktail bar has its work cut out come nightfall. We quickly decide this is the best drink option going but at €12 a pop, it’s a one-time treat. Happy Joe's is Helsinki’s cider of choice, in abundance at Flow. Add cans of Lapin Kulta beer & the very retro Hartwall Original Long Drink & you’ve got yourselves a proper Scandi party.

Flow puts on a mean spread – when stomachs rumble, it’s real corn soft tacos, bright beef phở & Pok Pok Farang, crispy palm sugar caramel pork on limey green mango salad. It’s so good we go back for seconds. There’s more veggie & vegan options than meats, too. Did I mention you’ll be broke after this weekend? Major Lazer shuts down the Friday main stage sampling Yeah Yeah Yeahs along with everything else. It’s flippant & exciting, though I’m put off when the ladies in the crowd are counselled to take their shirts off & throw them in the air. New single ‘Powerful’ is just that; everyone leaves on a high.

Saturday brings even bigger, brighter skies. Anyone doing this city festival thing right is busy picnicking, lazing at the beach or otherwise celebrating Helsinki’s historic sights & the fact it’s again cracked 20 degrees. Belle + Sebastian give new track ‘Perfect Couples’ a run, joking over a false start: "It's because we're near the magnetic pole." I’m convinced most of Flow is Finnish, young & attractive. "Is anybody old enough to remember that one?" Singer Stuart Murdoch has also noticed the teens. 

O Samuli A is making the titular ‘other sound’ over on that stage & it's impossible to get within 70 foot of Reino Nordin lighting up the fantastical Bright Balloon. Marsen Jules sounds a little churchy, dark too. Like, literally. I'm not wholly sure there's even anyone on the decks.

I'll jinx it now, but everyone at Flow is out for a good time. People are calm, casual. Years & Years pack out the Blue Tent. I’m not expecting Olly Alexander’s dungaree & Harley Davidson tee combo, or his cover of Blu Cantrell’s ‘Breathe’, but the whole vibe is perfectly chill & the set is one of Flow’s best. Catchy ‘King’ comes last, Alexander dancing as he sings with a rainbow flag borrowed from the crowd.

I’m star struck by Baltimore’s Future Islands, or really lead singer Samuel T. Herring. His vocals are reminisce of Pantera at moments but interpret that as feeling & any apprehension melts away. There’s a glittery drum kit & all the guys are in patterned shirts. Herring booty-shakes like Beyoncé, beats his chest like Tarzan & sweats like, well, like a man. In front of a slower song Herring explains, "We're not s'posed to do this at a festival but we don't give a fuck." You can imagine the cheers. When finally ‘Seasons’ plays to hard applause, his roar is returned. He skips across the stage, invisible bowling ball in hand. "Thank you so much Flow, you guys are fuckin' beautiful.” We must be.

We’re in denial about Sunday. Unlike camping festivals where you're itching for a shower, actual sleep & a decent pour of coffee to head the day, it's hard to tire of sleeping late, brunching out & a spot of vintage shopping or water sports before rolling along to spot some of the world's best musical talent. We've hit peak Helsinki when Todd Terje & The Olsens grace the Black Tent with their easy 70s spy-theme dulcets. There are shirts off everywhere for their efforts, people dancing hard in the evening heat. Delorean Dynamite is unmissable, then it's like their just jamming along with a wailing sax & big samba sounds.

The most impressive kind of mass-clap is one that starts itself, uninitiated by the band; a pure & unadulterated response of sound to sound. These guys get it, a second time when the crowd tries for an encore after Inspector Norse & a final bow. Beck draws one of Flow’s biggest crowds. "Somebody threw a banana peel on stage!" Indeed. I’m not a fan but it’s hard to fault the classics and ‘Where It's At’ is one of the 90s’ better earworms. Florence + the Machine’s namesake is a fan, a vision in white peasant blouse & heavy cream flares. She’s barefoot too, throwing loose locks here and there while beating her drum (tambourine) in Ship to Wreck. She twirls everywhere & I'm sure she's going to fall, but her balance is the greater force & somehow she avoids disaster.

I haven't seen Florence since 2010 after she missed Benicàssim with vocal strain. She gives it absolutely everything at all times. For ‘Raise It Up’ she shouts, "Put your girlfriend on your shoulders, put your boyfriend on your shoulders. We want everybody to get as high as they can!" ‘Shake It Out’ gives me goosebumps & I have them again when Alt-J close the weekend. Marmite of the music world, I never got the appeal before seeing these guys live. There’s huge love for the boys from Leeds, even if nobody understands what they’re singing.

Blissing out to the country/rock/folk/blues/jazz/grime/electro weirdness of it all, it’s clear people are enjoying in very different ways. There's a real range of reactions but everyone joins to applaud what is undeniably interesting music made with heart. The Finns aren't too cool to care about their hearing either. We saw earplugs on sale from day one & should really have sprung for a couple.

Flow is undoubtedly the blondest, tallest, tastiest festival yet in a seriously fun setting. Start saving now for the next one.

 

Chic & Nile Rodgers close out Bestival 2014

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The final night of Bestival is drawing in, a glittery crowd is itching to get it's disco on at the main stage area, and a floor sparkling with strewn sequins‎ shimmers in the neon of the bars. The world record breaking giant disco-ball has been hoisted into the air via crane on the Magic Meadow and spotlights sent fragments of‎ light all over the site.
 
Chic and Nile Rogers ‎take to the stage in a dazzling array of white leather and gold, and Nile almost immediately breaks into tears and tells us "I just found out, we got a phonecall at the hotel room that my old guitar roadie Terry, died a few minutes ago". At this sad news, the Bestival crowd begins to chant Terry's name and cheer on Rogers.
 
Gaining composure, Nile and the band start strong with 'Everybody Dance' but a few more speakers would be useful behind the sound tent as it's quite quiet for those further back on the hill.‎ The little extras start early as loveheart graphics fill the giant screen and red streamers are shot from a stage cannon, and Nile laments, "I just want to let you guys know… a little bit about why we're here to play for you… a few years ago I was diagnosed with very very aggressive cancer and they thought I might not be here… thank you for giving me the energy", but moves on to lighter subjects with quip "So when you hear us play a song by Madonna, I don't want you to get weird, cause I played that shit in the first place… Mojo… I wrote all that shit"‎ and invites Bestival to sing along, "If you don't know the words, sing any old bullshit it sounds fine up here".
 
A huge medley of songs Rogers has written or had a hand in creating gets everyone up and dancing with proper disco moves, 'I'm Comin Out' and 'We Are Family' have the entire arena singing and going wild. Many are surprised at the sheer number of songs they know by Nile and the huge dance party is getting rowdier, despite the tired eyes and sore feet on day four of Bestival.
 
Madonna hit 'Like A Virgin' incites some very amusing camp dancing all over, and Duran Duran favourite (and namesake of the B.I.G.) 'Notorious' ‎go down a storm, but Nile breaks down in tears again for departed friend Terry, and the crowd hold phone screens and lighters aloft in support. Daft Punk summer hit 'Get Lucky' is the song of the night, moving into 'Let's Dance', the hits keep on coming, as giant multicoloured beach balls are released into the crowd.
 
'Freak Out' sees the first explosion of stage fireworks and 'Good Times' is a jam session in which fans are hauled up on stage to join the party as glitter rains from the rafters. With the incredible voices and solid musical ability of Chic, as well as Nile's creative talent across the years, this makes for an amazing and memorable show, a perfect close to Bestival's Desert Island Disco. As Chic and Nile exit the stage, all eyes turn to the hillside where the massive closing ceremony fireworks light up the night sky in a magical goodbye to yet another stellar year here at Robin Hill. Rob Da Bank and co. just seem to know the meaning of party and more importantly, pull it off bigger and better every single time. Waiting a whole year is going to be hard…

V Festival 2014 Review – Weston Park

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Day 1

2014 saw a strong lineup for V festival. Previous years have seen the lineup cater towards a more commercial demographic, but this year included an impressive array of veteran artists, and new up and coming talent that would please the ears of the many festival-goers that would be in attendance.

The main stage opened on the Saturday with musical legend Nile Rogers and his band Chic. Most recently, Rogers has gained exposure for his work with French dance duo Daft Punk, but what most people are unaware of, is that he is behind some of the greatest hits ever released over the past 30 years. Unmistakably tracks such as “Everybody Dance” and “Good Times” were crafted at the hands of the American singer-songwriter, along with his sensational band. It was a pleasure to watch him play with such passion for the performance: a true musician.

Newton Faulkner’s set brought a nice change of pace to the afternoon as his began his set on the main stage, enticing the audience with his enchanting voice and his impressive guitar skills. The dreadlocked singer-songwriter would not usually be seen on the main stage at a large festival such as V, but nonetheless, he proved that the spot was well deserved. His UK top ten hit “Dream Catch Me” was certainly a crowd favorite among many others in a perfectly crafted set.

Rizzle Kicks, the cheeky chaps from Brighton genuinely appeared to be having the time of their lives as they bounced across the stage to a huge crowd at the MTV Stage. The duo looked euphoric to be in the privileged position that they’re in, as the audience collectively danced to their hit “Do The Hump.”

Paolo Nutini kept the crowd suitably entertained before the main headline act of the evening. His grizzly voice warmed the afternoon air with such tunes like “New Shoes” and “Pencil Full of Lead.”

The Sun had set across Weston Park as the crowd eagerly awaited the entrance of the headline act for the evening. Brandon Flowers lead The Killers onto the stage in a rather fetching glittery purple blazer that wouldn’t look out of place in a Gary Newman video.

The band made no delay in breaking into “Somebody Told Me” which resulted in the crowd bouncing up and down in full force. With such a strong back catalogue, more hits soon followed suit, most notably “Mr. Brightside” which surely has to go down as one of the most universally loved tracks of all time. The band was on fine form, and they delivered a set that was most certainly worthy of the headline slot they were given.

Day 2

Day two arrived as many bleary-eyed faces emerged from their canvas living quarters. Despite the inevitable hangovers, the energy was still high as the last of the adrenaline worked its way through the veins of the revelers.

My afternoon began with a fantastic performance from the immensely talented Tom Odell. I first spotted Tom during his performance on Live with Jools Holland, so I was eager to see his set in a festival environment. I was sold. The combination of his incredibly powerful voice and effortless piano playing almost seemed to send the crowd into a hypnotic trance as the notes waved out across the horizon. His masterfully crafted melodies reminded me of a hybrid of David Bowie and Tom Waits: not a bad comparison to make! The highlight of his set was “Another Love” which most certainly drew the lighters from the audiences’ pockets.

I stuck around at the main stage to catch Leeds-based rockers Kaiser Chiefs, a personal favorite of mine. Front man Ricky Wilson sure knows how to keep an audience entertained with his energy and enthusiasm, running up and down the stage like an over-excited school kid to the unmistakable sound of their hits such as “I Predict A Riot” and new single “Coming Home.”

I ventured over to the MTV Stage to witness pop legend Blondie in action. Her performance was superb to say the least, entertaining the older members of the crowd with classics such as “Atomic.” It’s great to see an artist of Blondie’s caliber still wowing audiences with her performances. It surely is a testament to her determination and hard work.

I made my way back to the main stage to catch another British star take to the main stage. Acoustic wizard, Ed Sheeran never fails to impress me with his live performances. A strong set filled with old and new material from his most recent album, “X” kept the large audience entertained, whilst anticipating the headline act.

The audience could hardly contain their excitement over the anticipation of the last headline act of the weekend; the incredible Justin Timberlake. As he casually made his way onto the stage, to an almighty roar from the audience, he oozed class and confidence as the band kicked in and he began his set, filled with hit, after hit, after hit. Each note he sang was inch-perfect and his dance moves were a sight to behold.

In the same fashion as the previous night, the crowd made no reservations in signing their hearts out to hits such as “Senorita” and “Sexy Back” which resulted in an almost overwhelmed-looking JT as the thousands of voices screamed back at him in unison.

Overall, V Festival was an incredibly entertaining weekend. Every act that I was fortunate to see was on sublime form, and that (coupled with the hangover) made for some serious post-festival blues!

V Festival 2014 Review – Chelmsford

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This years V Festival saw 120,000 revelers over the twin site event who were in luck for some supreme delights. In its 19th year there was a whole host of different acts on offer for festivalgoers. From disco to indie to dance to good old-fashioned Rock n Roll. there was certainly something for everyone.

Dublin band Kodaline kicked off Saturday at V Festival Chelmsford with summer sing-alongs.  Setting the tone for the day with uplifting songs the crowd were in full verse by the time they belted out their well known hit ‘High Hopes’.

It’s been a long time since one man and his piano sparked such an engaged crowd as Tom Odell managed. Even though the onlookers did not seem old enough to have experienced such angst ridden relationships; Odell had them jumping along to ‘Another Love’, whilst the blues hipster passionately pounded the keys.

With all the classics, Kaiser Chiefs reminded the crowd why they were all there., to have a bloody good time. Ricky Wilson put in a performance to answer all the critics, running up and down the stage more times than anyone could count, he was back in full form, even surprising the backstage crew when he went slightly too far. Ricky’s passion could not be mistaken; he puts everything into the performance. Evidently someone is prompting him that this is to sell records as between the mosh pit inducing hits he enlightens the audience that they are the Kaiser Chiefs and that the new album ‘ Education, Education, Education and War‘ is out now. Clearly agitated from the sound of Bastille’s drums in his ear, Ricky mischievously jokes with the stagehands before lifting everyone with the ‘Angry Mob’ and ‘Oh My God’.

Meanwhile there was no mistaking the summer vibes of the Wailers on the MTV Stage, how can you resist singing along to tunes such as ‘Jammin’, ‘ One Love’, ‘Could You Be Loved’. Everyone left beaming from side to side.

Back on main stage was the penultimate act before what everyone had been waiting for.  Ed Sheeran, one man and his guitar, brought the vibe to serve as the perfect warm up act for JT.

The stage was set, the crowd were pumping, the most anticipated set of V was ready to kick off. JT certainly brought sexy back  looking suave as ever in Tom Ford suit and backed by The Tennessee Kids, could be mistaken as arrogant but no he actually looked overwhelmed at ‘how far back you all go’. Hit after hit,  in a perfectly polished fashion that you would expect from this superstar, the night was Timberlake’s.

Even festivalgoers who would not admit to being Timberlake fans were swept into it, everyone singing every song. The acoustic rendition of What Goes Around (Comes Back Around) was a highlight of the night.  Justin served what appears to now be the theme of this weekends V Festival taking a selfie with a fan.  He wowed the fans at every moment, didn’t put a step wrong and was pitch perfect. The crowd obligingly taking their part in Senorita, finishing the night with ‘SexyBack’ and ‘Mirrors’ everyone wanted to leave with you, Justin.

Sunday started with threatening skies, you couldn’t blame fans for hiding in the comedy tent. Newton Faulkner brought out the sunshine and the crowds on the gloomy Sunday. Followed by San Francisco band Train, with hits ‘Hey Soul Sister’, ‘Marry Me’, ‘If Its Love’ they even managed to get Bananaman crowd surfing.  Pat Monahan gets the award of the weekend for the most selfies taken, it would appear that everyone in the front row has a piece of photo memorabilia.

Closing the set with ‘Drops of Jupiter’ the crowd was well and truly warmed up for the party that was about to ensue Nile Rodgers and Chic.

The most lovable performance of the weekend goes to veterans Nile Rodgers and Chic. Who knew how many hits Nile Rodgers had written. He is a true legend, inspiring character, telling the crowd how he battled cancer by going out and living life. Using music the way it was intended, uplifting everyones spirits and bringing the funk to V. It was true carnival atmosphere. Too many hits to believe one man wrote them all; ‘I Want Your Love’, ‘I’m Coming Out’, ‘Like A Virgin’, ‘Lets Dance’, ‘Get Lucky’, the list is endless. No one was standing still, jiving along, doing the salsa as the legend requested. Fifty lucky punters were brought on stage for the last song and all the rules were broken. Nile Rodgers left everyone exhilarated wanting more.

Rizzle Kicks brought the largest crowd to the MTV stage, all ages, connected for ‘The Lost Generation’. Two hip-hop boys who genuinely looked like they were having a blast in the middle of this corporate festival. What a sight to see 15,000 people ‘Doing the Hump’.

Lily Allen looking svelte as ever bounded onto stage in a silver leather catsuit. Lily baffled a large number of the crowd with a stage full of milk bottles, as if people needed to be reminded she is now a mother. Allen did feel the need to quash rumours of a split with her husband, and passionately sang ‘As Long As I Got You’.  This performance felt like it was a big ‘Fuck You’ to all the critics along the way, comparing her song ‘LDN’ to a William Blake poem, this was lost on the festivalgoers.

Paolo Nutini followed in Allen’s footsteps intriguing the audience by appearing in a different world. Whilst slurring when speaking, "feeling a little bit drink" he was mysteriously in tune when singing. With hits ‘Jenny Don’t Be Hasty’ and ‘New Shoes’ providing the perfect warm up for The Killers.

Embrace vs The Killers. The clash of the weekend. Embrace were back after an 8 year break from the festival. Whilst having one of the worst clashes of the weekend, with The Killers, the McNamara brothers attracted a 300 strong crowd . With festival favorites ‘Come Back To What You Know’ and  'One Big Family’ Embrace have certainly hit the ground running on this comeback. Fans lucky enough to have got tickets to their now infamous Secret Festival are in for a treat. Danny was very proud of his "little brother Rich" encouraging everyone to dance, with Danny himself joining the fans in an out of character dance along.

Meanwhilst completing the all American headline, Brandon Flowers of The Killers stormed onto stage in a glittery purple suit. Ever crowd pleasing, ‘Somebody Told Me’ was the first of a multitude of triumphant songs. After a few beats  everyone was set for 90 minutes of singing, word for word, all the tunes.  The classics from Hot Fuss, pulled the most promising reaction, with a handful of covers driving the audience to a new level of excitement. Jimmy Carr, comedian, introduced the band for a well received encore. The Killers closed the festival with ‘Mr Brightside’ and the obligatory fireworks.

V Festival certainly had something for everyone this year, VIP bar, posh toilets, celebrity packed Louder Lounge, hammocks, comedy, funfair, skydivers and of course a plethora of music acts. As the sun goes down on another year, the organizers set the bar high for next years 20th anniversary.

Chic feat Nile Rodgers, London Grammar and more for Unknown Croatia

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This summer's Unknown Festival has revealed a another batch of artists joining the bill.  Unknown will be the first Croatian visit for Chic feat Nile Rodgers.  The Summer Festival Guide has the rest of the latest lineup news for this years event below:
 
Rising above the competition, Unknown offers the most eclectic programme of live and electronic acts in Croatia. Talent from across the musical spectrum will perform unforgettable shows across the festival's intimate forest and waterside stages including London Grammar, Clean Bandit, Disclosure, Chvrches, Wild Beasts, TEED, Erol  Alkan and Moderat. Unknown's idyllic beach stage will also provide the perfect scene for the incredible and timeless sounds of Chic Ft. Nile Rogers, who make their Croatian live debut.
 

Brand new to 2014, Unknown will be returning with a series of island parties hosted by the likes of Young Turks and Numbers. Taking place on secluded private islands and accessible only via a short boat ride, these amazing additions will offer revellers the chance to party with their favourite artists, in a truly unique setting. Elsewhere there'll be exciting new collaborations with top club promoters Bugged Out, Secretsundaze, Zutekh and Drop The Mustard, not to mention boat parties hosted by Resident Advisor and Hot Chip. Also new for 2014, Unknown will be opening the main stage for an entire extra day, allowing for even more surprises set to surpass the success of last year's sell out debut.