Henley Festival has revealed a sensational line-up for 2024, featuring five magical summer nights packed full of world-class music, comedy, dining, dancing and magical moments from Wednesday 10th July to Sunday 14th July, with headliners including Nicole Scherzinger, Dave Stewart’s Eurythmics Songbook, Gladys Knight, Rylan, Nigel Kennedy, Sam Ryder and much more.
Westcoast, a Berkshire-based technology company distributing some of the world’s leading tech brands, are delighted to continue their long association with Henley Festival in 2024 and to support RISE, Henley Festival’s charitable programme.
The UK’s only black-tie music and arts festival – an unmissable experience set on the beautiful riverside in Henley – invites festivalgoers to be part of something truly amazing: a world-class music programme of pop, world, classical, folk and jazz set alongside stellar comedy, stunning art galleries and sculpture installations, as well as gourmet dining, dancing and jaw-dropping fireworks.
Founded as a charity more than 40 years ago, Henley Festival’s mission is to support the next generation of talent. This year’s Henley Festival RISE line-up will once again give a platform for young musicians, comedians and visual artists to take their first steps on stage, as well offering opportunities for young people aspiring to work behind the scenes.
Opening this year’s Henley Festival on its iconic Floating Stage is none other than the international icon, singer and actress Nicole Scherzinger, fresh from her triumphant residency at The Savoy Theatre starring as lead role Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical ‘Sunset Boulevard’ – for which she won an Evening Standard Theatre Award for ‘Best Musical Performance’ for the part and is nominated for many more. The Masked Singer panellist and Olivier-nominated singer, Scherzinger has sold more than 60 million records, both solo and as part of The Pussycat Dolls, as well as featuring as a judge on The X Factor, cast member on NBC’s Annie Live! in 2021 and winning Dancing with the Stars in 2010.
On Thursday, Dave Stewart, the award-winning singer, songwriter, musician, producer, innovator and Eurythmics co-founder, is set to captivate the Floating Stage audience with ‘Dave Stewart’s Eurythmics Songbook’ including a carefully curated selection of timeless hits from Eurythmics extraordinary catalogue of songs.
Henley Festival is thrilled to welcome Empress of Soul’, music legend, seven-time Grammy Award winner, Hollywood Walk of Fame and Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Gladys Knight to headline Friday – an extra special occasion as it will mark the last show of her UK Farewell Tour.
As the sun goes down on Henley Festival’s Friday evening, award-winning television presenter, radio DJ, podcaster and number one best-selling author, Rylan, will be DJing and entertaining the crowd with a trademark larger-than-life performance!
The extraordinary House Gospel Choir will open Saturday night’s Floating Stage performances, getting the Henley audience singing, dancing and raving along with their unique House meets Gospel experience. The London-based vocal group, which debuted in 2014 at Glastonbury Festival, is the place where spirituality and the euphoria of the dancefloor come together – amped up further by a full house band and percussion from the one and only Dezy Bongo, creating an effortless live fusion of the biggest house and gospel tunes that never fails to raise the roof.
The atmosphere will continue to be electric on Saturday evening as Ministry of Sound Ibiza Anthems with Ellie Sax take to the Floating Stage presenting the anthems that have sound-tracked everyone’s most iconic Ibiza moments. Following last year’s sell-out show, the iconic dance music brand Ministry of Sound returns to Henley Festival with a brand-new show for 2024 – ‘Ministry of Sound Ibiza Anthems with Ellie Sax’ – bringing The White Isle to Henley for one night only.
On Sunday – the final evening at Henley Festival – the Floating Stage will welcome not one, but two incredible musical talents. The night will star one of classical music’s true greats: Nigel Kennedy. Kennedy remains the bestselling violinist of all time, and his virtuoso technique, unique talent and mass appeal have brought fresh perspectives to both the classical and contemporary repertoire. He has won multiple awards across the world, performed and recorded music from the baroque era to the modern day, and his most recent album My World just hit the top of the classical charts in the UK. Nigel Kennedy’s performance at Henley Festival – called ‘Nigel Kennedy: Musical Adventure’ – will be music to the crowd’s ears.
Rounding out the festival is none other than Sam Ryder, who – since uploading his now infamous covers during lockdown in 2020 – has rocketed into the musical stratosphere. With his hit single Space Man, he gave the United Kingdom its best Eurovision result since 1998 and the highest-charting UK Eurovision entry in over a quarter of a century.
For more information and to book tickets, visit www.henley-festival.co.uk
