Hampton Court Palace

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

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James Morrison at Hampton Court Palace Festival 2017

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As music venues go, the royal Hampton Court Palace, situated snug in the borough of Richmond, Greater London is arguably as impressive as it gets. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the Hampton Court Palace Festival, which takes place annually every June, once again confirmed world-class acts including Bryan Ferry, James Morrison, Jools Holland, Rick Astley, Björn Again and The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra for their outdoor summer concerts.

It was a grey and slightly rainy summer’s day and I was off to see singer-songwriter and 2007 Brit Award winner James Morrison on Thursday 8th June take centre stage in Henry VIII’s historic open air Base Court, one of the stunning Tudor Courtyards of the palace. As an avid listener of his chart-topping album ‘Songs for You, Truths for Me’ back in 2008, a nostalgic trip down memory lane was very much appealing, and I was also keen to lend my ear to some later tracks I wasn’t as familiar with.

With ample time before the 9 pm start, there was plenty of time to enjoy a glass of red and admire the East Front Gardens. And my, what a picture they were. Perfectly preened lawns and distinctively shaped trees shaped the area, and despite the lacklustre weather plenty of people had made an impressive effort with their picnics spread out on the grass. For those that were less organised (myself included!), there were plenty of delicious food stalls selling a variety of different dishes. It really was an absolutely stunning setting to unwind in before a show and I felt relaxed and content sipping my wine in such beautiful surroundings.

                                          

It was soon time for James to take to the stage, and we made our way through the palace to Base Court, completely in awe at our surroundings. Bursting onto the stage, an introduction with the 2009 single ‘Nothing ever hurt like you’, elevated the crowds, some even rising to dance already. After a bit of light-hearted chit-chat to the 3,000 strong audience, up next it was the slower, mid-tempo ballad ‘I won’t let you go’ from 2011 album ‘The Awakening’, the slower rhythm inviting arm swaying from the audience.

‘Stay like this’ from the more recent 2015 album ‘Higher than here’ brought on swooning and wolf whistles, after which James’s sweetly explained it was written with his girlfriend in mind, followed by smooth and velvety vocals of ‘Something right’ from the same album.

Crowd-pleasing 2006 hit single ‘Wonderful world’ had the audience up on their feet, many singing along and turning to the catchy chorus. Interestingly (and as James hilariously pointed out – quite ironically) we learnt that the song was actually penned for a deaf man – though this wasn’t expanded on. Taking advantage of everyone up on their feet, hip-swayer ‘Slave to the music’ was next on the playlist, with everyone jigging along.

My personal favourite ‘Broken Strings’, an original duet with Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado seemingly had everyone feeling emotional and singing along, and paired with stunning female vocals it was my personal highlight of the show.  

As the performance slowly started to draw to a close, we were treated to the likes of ‘I need you tonight’ from ‘Higher than here’, and of course it wouldn’t be a James Morrison show without the unforgettable 2006 hit single ‘You give me something’ – a classic that everyone knew the words too.

The spectacular setting, matched with a delightful performance from James Morrison made the evening a truly memorable experience and a wonderful way to spend a summer evening, even despite the rain! The Hampton Court Palace Festival showcases outstanding acts year after year, so I eagerly look forward to checking out next year’s line-up.

Paloma Faith set for Hampton Court Palace Festival

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We are excited to announce that Paloma Faith will perform on 18th June and tickets for this concert will go on sale on Monday 19th January at 11am.

On confirming her date at the Festival, Paloma said: "I'm so thrilled to be playing at Hampton Court Palace Festival this June. I hear that the atmosphere is so intimate in the open air setting of base court – it will be the perfect setting for my summer concert." 
 
Renowned for her unique style, the Hackney-born singer has soared to fame since her early days on the cabaret scene. Now she is one of the leading lights, and has proudly received Four BRIT Award nominations to date, including British Female Solo Artist and Best British Album.
 
Paloma has worked with a legendary roster of music icons and singer-songwriters including Pharrell Williams, Diane Warren, John Legend and Raphael Saadiq; producing two double platinum selling albums in the UK. At the Festival, she will delight the audience with songs from her recent and most successful album to date,A Perfect Contradiction with top ten singles Can’t Rely on You and her first Number 1 Only Love Can Hurt Like This.

Britain’s favourite tenor Alfie Boe will return to the Festival on 19th June with his band performing classic tracks from a selection of his albums, including his latest album Serenata, which sees him bringing the magic and romance of the Italian Riviera to the UK. His success has seen him conquer the world’s most prestigious opera stages, led the cast of Les Miserables for nearly a year, and stolen the show at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace.
 
King of boogie woogie, Jools Holland & his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra will perform two energy-fuelled shows at the Palace where he will be joined by the fantastic Gilson Lavis on drums and the fabulous Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall. His passion for music has made him a doyen of the music scene, and he was awarded an OBE in 2003 for his services to the British music industry. With his show ‘Later with…Jools Holland’ now in its 45th series, and Jools’ Annual Hootenanny in its 22nd, Jools’ name has become synonymous with quality music.
 
The sumptuous sounds of the MGM Studio Orchestra will be revived by John Wilson & The John Wilson Orchestra on 14th June as they pay tribute to composers George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Harry Warren, Jerome Kern and Andre Previn, among others by performing some of Hollywood’s best loved songs and show-stopping sequences from the MGM film musicals.

Celebrated for his sold out annual appearances with the John Wilson Orchestra at the BBC Proms, all of which have been broadcast on television, John Wilson has established an international reputation as a conductor, arranger and scholar. The John Wilson Orchestra is a unique hand-picked ensemble of some of the world’s finest musicians specialising in authentic concert performances of classic film musical scores.
 
The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra returns for a glorious evening ofFanfare & Fireworks. Against the backdrop of the Tudor courtyard the Orchestra will perform scores from the mainstream masters of classical music, culminating in Handel’s rousing Music for the Royal Fireworks. After the concert, Festival-goers will experience a spectacular fireworks display over the Palace.

More acts announced for Hampton Court Palace Festival

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Van Morrison will make a welcome return to the Festival with classics such as Have I Told You Lately That I Love You and Brown Eyed Girl. Squeeze will also perform and delight fans with old favourites including Cool for Cats and Up the Junction as well as new material. In addition, the incredible Marc Almond will join Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra as a special guest, alongside Gilson Lavis and guest vocalists Ruby Turner and Louise Marshall.

They join Liza Minnelli, the legendary worldwide universally loved superstar who will provide the opening for the Festival’s 20th Anniversary on Thursday 14th June. The concert will include many of Liza’s showstoppers such as Cabaret, Maybe This Time, New York New York – arguably her very own signature tune – all written especially for her by the legendary song writing partnership of John Kander and Fred Ebb (Chicago, Cabaret) – and a selection of her best loved songs. 

The Festival will also host play host to Katie Melua, one of Britain’s most successful artists of the last decade who’s sold more than 11 million albums, who will delight festival-goers with familiar favourites such as Closest Thing To Crazy and Nine Million Bicycles, as well as performing songs from her new album Secret Symphony, out on 5th March. Legendary Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons will perform their first concert in the UK for 18 years at the Festival. This eagerly awaited concert will give fans the chance to hear many of the classic hit songs played live, such as: Big Girls Don’t Cry, Walk Like A Man, Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You, Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye), December 1963 (Oh What A Night) and Grease.

Brit Award Winner James Morrison is also confirmed to perform in the stunning open-air courtyard of King Henry VIII’s Palace and will treat fans to his hit songs You Give Me Something, Wonderful World and I Won’t Let You Go as well as new tracks from his current album The Awakening. Caro Emerald, who recently appeared on Jools Holland’s Annual Hootenanny, will make her Festival debut this year with her eclectic style of ballroom jazz, cinematic tangos, groovin' jazz and infectious mambos with songs from her platinum-selling album Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor.

To mark the Festival’s milestone, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra will perform a special 20th Anniversary Gala, which will be followed by spectacular fireworks over the Palace. Conducted by Gavin Sutherland, he will be joined by tenor James Edwards, soprano Laura Wright and violinist Clio Gould. The evening will have a long interval so that Festival-goers can enjoy their picnics and Champagne in the Palace Gardens as the sun sets on the summer’s evening.

 

In addition to the music, Hampton Court Palace Festival is renowned for creating a truly unforgettable experience. Artists perform in the historic main courtyard of the magnificent Tudor Palace providing an intimate atmosphere for an audience of 3,000. Corporate hospitality is available in the State Apartments and Festival-goers can also arrive early (Palace Gardens open at 1730) and enjoy a delicious picnic courtesy of Jamie Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts, in the stunning Palace gardens.