Henley Festival fuses comedy, art, and Tom Jones for 40th Anniversary
THE HENLEY Festival is back, celebrating its 40th anniversary with a five day black-tie extravaganza.
This year’s revelry will feature performances from Tom Jones, Boney M, Pete Tong, and The Script.
The Floating Stage will see Craig David perform on Thursday, July 7, followed by
Tom Jones on Friday, July 8, and Katherine Jenkins on Sunday,
July 10.
It will also be host to some of the biggest names in comedy, with stand up from Jo Brand, Andy Parsons, Milton Jones, Russell Kane, Geoff Norcot, and Maisie Adam.
As well as internationallyacclaimed musicians and comedians, the festival aims to bring visual art to the forefront of its celebrations.
More than 350 works of art will be on display, including prints and paintings, sculptures and ceramics, fine art, and photography.
Festival organisers have worked with Hollandridge Group art consultants to bring the collection of pieces to its two art spaces, the Ruby Gallery and the Festival Gallery, as well as special installations around the site.
The sculpture garden will be home to more than 30 installations, including stone work by Paul Vanstone.
One of the installations will feature Sound Intervention’s Luminosi trees, six metre high metal cast trees which transform through moving light patterns, with a gamelan gong accompaniment.
It will also feature sculpture work by Tom Waugh, such as Anonymous and I’m Not A Robot.
Henley Festival has been providing music and arts to the community since the charity was set up in 1982.
For its celebration of four decades of work, it has launched a new charity initiative, RISE.
Through the RISE scheme, young musicians, comedians, performing artists, and visual artists will be given the opportunity to display their talents across the festival.
The initiative will also provide a work experience programme for “behind the scenes” talent, such as technicians, sound and light engineers, and stage management.
Tickets for general admission are £65 for adults, £55 for those under 18.
Guests are encouraged to dress in black-tie attire.