The Gentleman Magazine Issue 9 | June 2018 | Page 75

Henley Festival will close in true style on the Sunday night
with one of the UK’s foremost opera companies the English
National Opera performing with soloists, full orchestra and
chorus and under the baton of ENO Music Director Martyn
Brabbins. Their repertoire is taken from many of the greatest
operas including Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro, Madam
Butterfly, Turandot and La Traviata as well as a little Gilbert &
Sullivan to top the night off. 
A STELLAR COMEDY LINE-UP
The 2018 comedy line-up is set to be bigger and better than
ever, with the likes of Paul Merton, Lee Nelson, Lucy Porter,
Mark Watson and Dominic Holland among the biggest names
of the 25 comedians performing at this year’s Festival. The
comedy line up will also include a very special evening of
unscripted, unrehearsed and spontaneous comedy from Dead
Ringers’ impressionists Jon Culshaw and legendary comedy
producer Bill Dare in their sell-out show The Great British
Take Off. In addition, up and coming comics including Suzi
Ruffell, Pierre Novellie, Rhys James, Flo & Joan, Alfie Brown
and Adam Rowe will also be keeping audiences entertained as
well as jaw-achingly funny cabaret from Tina C and Vellma
Celli.
JAZZ AT HENLEY FESTIVAL
Henley Festival’s very own Jazz Club in the stunning Spiegel
Tent offers dining and live jazz music before and after the main
headline act. Credited for helping kick off the Swing revival
in the early '80s Ray Gelato and the Giants will open Henley’s
Jazz Club on Wednesday night. On the Thursday Pop Noir
songstress Purdy will be performing, local to Henley, Purdy
has supported Lana Del Ray and Jools Holland. Friday Night
will see the high-energy Soul/R'n'B band The Staks Band
comprised of virtuoso players working with some of the music
world’s biggest artists, the band have a lineage that defies easy
description. Saturday night will see performances from King
Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys whose dazzling musicianship
and riveting stage performances will get the crowd jiving
stomping and swinging, finally on Sunday Miss Kiddy and the
Cads, will provide sensational live jazz, swinging beats, toe-
tapping finesse and a lot of laughter to transport you straight
to 1945s swing town, bringing Henley Festival’s Jazz Club to a
high octane close.
BBC MUSIC INTRODUCING
BBC Music Introducing was created in 2007 to support
unsigned, undiscovered and under the radar musicians.
Henley Festival is hugely excited to be working with BBC
Music Introducing discovering breaking acts from the region,
all of whom have featured across the BBC network before. 
Pearl, TN is a British country band with bittersweet songs of
love and regret featuring Harriet James on vocals that are pure
as a mountain stream. Inspired by American country artists
including Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings this is one country
band you don’t want to miss. Lorne is a singer, songwriter and
pianist from Berkshire who released his debut EP Maze on 24th
November 2017. With a sound that is a cross between Bon Iver,
Brandon Flowers and Damien Rice, his gentle melodic pop
and soft rock is a beauty to behold. Alex Green is a songwriter
from Reading, previously the front man of the band Attention
Thieves. He takes inspiration from artists within such genres
as folk, country, blues and rock. Cecil is an alternate indie pop
artist from Berkshire. Her debut E.P was released in April 2017
and received support from BBC Introducing, BBC Radio 2 and
several other radio stations. Her debut album is due out this
summer and with her music being compared to somewhere
between Lana Del Rey and Kate Bush she is definitely a one
to watch in 2018! WolfNote is a new acoustic folk and roots
quartet from Berkshire comprising multi-instrumentalist
Mike with his gammy leg, violinist and vocalist Ceri with her
dodgy back, guitarist and vocalist Gill, also falling to bits and
cellist and vocalist Bex, a crazy cat lady.
WORLD MUSIC IN THE BEDOUIN TENT
Enter The Bedouin Tent for a taste of global world music as well
as home spun British folk at its best. World Music comes from
Senegalese band The Coute Diomboulou Band led by Cissokh
use traditional instruments including the kora, tamma and
djembe  expect an extraordinary mix of mbalax and afrobeat
grounded in African traditions. Son Yambu play authentic
Cuban son, the intoxicating fusion of Spanish and African
rhythms that gave rise to salsa. They give this irresistible
music a contemporary edge, bringing their audiences a
truly, sensational, authentic Latin music experience. The
Bikini Beach Band begins with one man - Jesus C. Escovedo
- guitarist, revolutionary, ladies' man and 1956 All-Mexico
Surfing Champion (for real). Expect rockin surf sound and
chilled 1950s Mexican beach vibes. Trovador is a flamenco
fusion trio with influences from Brazilian and classical music
based in UK, providing a performance full of rhythm, passion
and grace. Powerful and uplifting music from the virtuoso duo
of guitarist Matt Sullivan and percussionist Jo May; Against the
Grain will dazzle you with their stunning musical skills and
exciting performances. Stirring the styles of West Africa, South
America and Spain, Jo and Matt create an original blend of
musical flavours.
FOLK MUSIC IN THE BEDOUIN TENT
Henley will be presenting up and coming folk music names
in the Bedouin Tent including “alt-bluegrass” act The Coal
Porters who demonstrate the foot stomping power of fiddle,
mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar and doghouse bass when
matched with four-part harmonies. Winner of the 2009 BBC
Young Folk Awards, Megan Henwood began writing songs in
her early teens including her poignant song about relationship/
abuse “White Lies”, from her debut album “Making Waves”.
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