The Gentleman Magazine Issue 14 | April 2019 | Page 66

THE HENLEY FESTIVAL: 10TH-14TH JULY
Henley Festival, the UK’s most glamorous festival, and winner
of Headline Performance of the Year in 2016 returns to its
spectacular setting on the riverbank in Henley-on-Thames
from 10th-14th July 2019.
As the UK’s only black-tie festival, Henley Festival is glamour
personified, offering Michelin starred food, award winning
comedians, critically acclaimed 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.
Established 37 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 grants 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
Pop icon and mega star Boy George will open Henley festival
2019 on Wednesday night. Universally recognised as one of
the music scenes most iconic artists Boy George was recently
presented with the Ivor Novello lifetime achievement award.
The Grammy award winning singer has created a Worldwide
presence that transcends age, race, colour, creed, nationality
and even religion.
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To date George has sold over 100 million singles and in excess
of 50 million albums as a performer and songwriter with 80’s
super group Culture Club and as a solo artist in his own right.
This new wave legend will bring his extravagant showmanship
to Henley to kick start UK’s most dazzling festival weekend of
the year.
On the Thursday night, Henley Festival is delighted to
welcome back multi-platinum selling artist Jessie J for the first
concert of a 3 year retrospective bringing back some of Henley
Festival’s most popular artists. Since her last performance at
Henley Jessie J has cracked the US, written and released her
latest album R.O.S.E and completed a hugely successful World
tour, selling out shows in China, Asia, US & Europe. Not only
an incredible recording artist she has also served as a popular
judge on both The Voice UK and The Voice Australia and last
year became the first non-Chinese contestant to win the prime
time Chinese TV show 'Singer' which has cemented her global
popularity even further.
On Friday night, the festival audience are in for a treat as Brit
Award and Ivor Novello-winning songwriting sensation Tom
Odell takes to the floating stage. With multiple awards and 1.8
million sales under his belt, the Chichester-born prodigy has
won over the British public. His 2013 breakthrough smash,
‘Another Love’ and debut album, ‘Long Way Down’, topped
the charts in the UK and in 2014 he made the top ten again
with a Beatles cover of ‘Real Love’, recorded for the John Lewis
Christmas ad campaign. Alongside standout tracks such as
‘Grow Old With Me’, ‘Heal’ and ‘Can’t Pretend’, public affection
for Tom and his quaveringly emotional way is at an all-time
high.
In a Henley Festival first, Friday night’s performance by Tom
Odell will be followed by a DJ set on the floating stage by the
legendary BBC DJ Jo Whiley! Bringing you all the best tracks
, Security in Motion”