Taking place from 10 – 14th July 2013, the Henley Festival has it all; a cultural spectacle of music, visual arts, fashion, streettheatre, comedy and fine dining. WithJUST 5,000 tickets available each night, this boutique Festival is set to be one of THE top events of the summer. To keep up to date with all latest information go to www.henley-festival.co.uk.
As well as world-class musical performances on the floating stage, the Henley Festival offers Michelin starred dining from father and son Albert Roux & Michel RouxJr. Black tie guests can enjoy a candlelight dinner from the award-winning chefs at their atmospheric riverside restaurant. Food is an integral part of the fabric of the Festival and with six restaurants on the site there are multiple culinary choices available.
Along the scenic Thames riverbank guests can expect appearances from some of the biggest names in music, theatre, food, comedy, cabaret and literature, while pop-up art and sculpture bring major galleries and artists to the Henley Festival. Withstars on stage and in the audience, the Festival has a quintessential setting that can’t be rivalled. First class wining and dining, coupled with glamorous guests partying in a stunning location, the Henley Festival: miss it and miss out.
The Festival culminates with a spectacular firework display, which lights up the skies over the Thames. The Henley Festival has to be seen to be believed, so we look forward to seeing you there…
Recognised nationally and internationally as one of the summer's great British events, all net profits go to the Henley Festival charitable projects. Under the banner of ‘Arts Inspiring Lives’, The Henley Festival promotes year round community projects, with the aim of providing experiences via the arts to groups that may not otherwise have access.
Top 10 recording artist, acclaimed Opera singer and recently the star of Les Miserables Alfie Boe with guest musical funnyman Tim Minchin
Sixties-songstress, Lulu and The London Community Gospel Choir
X-Factor finalist Olly Murs will close the Festival on 8 July.
The Henley Festival is the UK’s most glamorous summer party; five magical nights on the banks of the River Thames in the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside. Tickets go on sale to the public from 15 March or you can beat the wait and become a Friend of the Henley Festival to get your tickets in advance. Tickets can be purchased at www.henley-festival.co.uk, or from the Festival box office: 01491 843404 Tickets priced from £35 per day. All Festival profits go to local charities [details below].
This year the Festival is celebrating 30 years at the heart of the English summer season and has announced a line up like never before.
Composer, singer, author, actor, activist – Sting was born in Newcastle, England before moving to London in 1977 to form The Police with Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers. The band released five albums, earned six Grammy awards, and in 2003 was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Since 1985, Sting has released 13 solo albums. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of his solo career, 25 Years, the definitive box set collection, was recently released. The Best Of 25 Years is also available as a double disc. Sting has sold nearly 100 million albums from his combined work with the Police and as a solo artist and has earned an additional 10 Grammy awards, a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and three Oscar nominations. This summer, Sting will perform many of his most celebrated hits at the Henley Festival on July 4, 2012.
Aside from the headline acts, black tie revellers will enjoy candlelit dining at award winning chefs Albert and Michel Roux Jr’s riverside restaurant or have a more relaxed bite at one of the Festival’s six other restaurants. Along the riverbank world-class acts [full details below] from the worlds of jazz, opera, pop, theatre, comedy, cabaret and literature entertain while pop-up art boutiques and sculpture lawns bring major galleries and artists to the Festival – a unique ‘collectors’ concierge’ provides advice and introductions to those looking to buy.
The headline acts are closed each night by a dazzling firework display before partygoers dance into the night at the Festival’s resident nightclub.
Henley-on-Thames is 60 minutes from London by train, (or 10 minutes by helicopter to the Festival’s helipad). Many guests choose to make a weekend of it and stay in one of the many five star hotels in Henley or nearby [more details below].
Henley Festival 2012 acts:
Cabaret and performance: Among the stand-up comedy acts on offer are Have I got News for you! regular Dr Phil Hammond,Fascinating Aïda star Sarah-Louise Young, and charismatic Canadian comedic Craig Campbell.
The Festival’s signature cabaret acts, The Roving Company of Eccentrica, will amuse, entertain, surprise and shock guests with their unique brand of street performances, spread throughout the Festival’s grounds.
World-class dining: Revellers enjoy candlelit summer nights dining at Albert and Michelin Starred Michel Roux Jr’sFestival riverside Roux restaurant, try the Terrace Restaurant or Café du Soir, (no booking required) – or have a more relaxed bite to eat at one of the Festival’s street-food concessions.
FEAST! Contemporary arts programme Pop up art boutiques and sculpture lawns bring major galleries and artists to the Festival and a ‘collectors concierge’ provides advice and introductions to those looking to buy. The Festival’s Visual Arts Programme includes FEAST! – an exceptional range of selling exhibitions – including the Festival’s famous Sculpture gardens – that showcases major international established artists and emerging talent.
2012 highlights include:
The serious surrealism of Alexander Vorobyev
Abstract contemporary art by Jeffrey Kroll and Nicolas Ruston
The Festival’s annual sculpture garden featuring the work of British sculptor Roland Piche and Auguste Rodin’s iconic masterpiece The Thinker.
“Carbon Art” specialist Alastair Gibson
Aboriginal Art from Australia
Body painted optical illusions created live by Kiwi artist Emma Hack
All profits to charity The Henley Festival is a not for profit organisation. All profits raised go to local and national charities across the Thames Valley. This includes creating and funding the Henley Festival Orchestra which provides over 80 young people with a musical instrument, tuition and performance opportunities throughout the year. The Henley Festival Orchestra also enjoys the opportunity to work with outstanding international performers including Nigel Kennedy and Jon Lord. Find out more here: http://bit.ly/Avqze2
Stewart Collins, Henley Festival Artistic Director said: “To celebrate the Festival’s landmark birthday we’ve really pulled out all the stops. This year’s programme promises to be one of our most sensational to date – after all, 30 years is an achievement for any event and we wanted to see our guests celebrate in style. The Henley Festival is renowned for leaving our guests with magical memories and this will be an unmissable year for regulars and newcomers alike.’
The Henley Festival is sponsored by Invesco Perpetual, Westcoast, Lavazza Coffee, Goodhead and Courtiers, the Festival showcases some of the best loved artists and performers from the classical, jazz and contemporary music world, as well as talent drawn from the global cultural scene, from sculpture and street theatre acts to poetry and art.
Legendary 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
