DAZZLING MEMORIES AT THE UK’S ONLY BLACK-TIE MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL

More than 27,000 black-tie festivalgoers attended the sun-soaked celebrations, with revellers also arriving in one of the 200 boats pulling up to the beautiful banks of the Thames.

Headlining the unique Floating Stage were Nicole Scherzinger, Dave Stewart’s Eurythmics Songbook, Gladys Knight – with her last ever UK performance – House Gospel Choir, Ministry of Sound Ibiza Anthems with Ellie Sax, Nigel Kennedy and Sam Ryder with the audience treated to a stellar assortment of stunning entertainment across the beautiful riverside setting. Rylan and Trevor Nelson had the Festival crowd dancing late into the night in the Pure Heaven club, and this year’s laughs were brought by Mark Watson, Marcel Lucont, Angela Barnes, Sara Pascoe, Flo & Joan and Dara Ó Briain.

Henley Festival was set up in 1982 as a charity whose mission is to stage an unforgettable music and arts festival for the local community. The Festival’s charitable initiative RISE nurtures the next generation of talent to take their first steps into the wonderful world of performance, both in front and behind the spotlight. This year’s incredible musicians on the RISE Emerging Talent Stage presented by Westcoast included Alex Francis, Louise Parker, The Multiverse, Immy, Datura Roots Collective, Eden Hunter, The Great Leslie, The Wave Machine and winner of this year’s inaugural Westcoast RISING Star Award KATYA.

The Festival’s pioneering visual arts programme featured four RISE artists including Beatrice Galletley, an award-winning London-based ceramic artist, and Audi – the Festival’s official car partner – continue to be an avid champion of RISE with the Audi High RISE Gallery welcoming Conrad P Clarke, Robert Ware and Amie Elizabeth Wolo, who designed a bespoke wrap for the all-electric Audi Q8 e-tron displayed at the Festival.

Further artworks were displayed across the green banks of the Thames, with fine art, ceramics, sculptures, photography, prints, paintings and light installations by some of the UK’s most renowned and talented creators, including Mark Demsteader, Esther Erlich, and Holly Bendall.

On Sunday, the Festival hosted families for the beloved Playdate @ Henley Festival, with a wonderful selection of performances and activities for children of every age and stage including Jonny Awsum & His Award Winning Kids Show, Marcel Lucont’s Les Enfants Terribles, Out of the Box, as well as workshops for singing, circus skills, art and much more.

Packed full of dazzling memories, each evening was brought to a stunning close with Festival’s trademark firework spectacular designed by Titanium Fireworks – with festivalgoers flocking to the riverbanks to watch the jaw-dropping display.

Henley Festival will return 9– 13 July 2025.

HENLEY FESTIVAL 2024: FULL LINE-UP

FLOATING STAGE HEADLINERS

NICOLE SCHERZINGER | GLADYS KNIGHT

DAVE STEWART EURYTHMICS

HOUSE GOSPEL CHOIR | MINISTRY OF SOUND IBIZA ANTHEMS WITH ELLIE SAX

And on Sunday… NIGEL KENNEDY | SAM RYDER

PURE HEAVEN – The Festival Club

TREVOR NELSON | RYLAN!

THE BOOTLEG BEATLES | TRIS LEVITATE

COMEDY at the Paradiso & Riverside Cabaret

MARK WATSON | MARCEL LUCONT | ANGELA BARNES | SARA PASCOE | FLO & JOAN | DARA Ó BRIAIN

RISE by HENLEY FESTIVAL

Creating opportunities for emerging talent to learn, perform and flourish

Westcoast Rising Star Award Winner KATYA

ALEX FRANCIS | LOUISE PARKER | THE MULTIVERSE | IMMY

EDEN HUNTER | THE GREAT LESLIE | THE WAVE MACHINE

JAZZ & SWING at the Paradiso

MIMI ROSE & THE MULBERRY EARLS | REBECCA POOLE | BELLE NOIR

ELECTRO SWING PROJECT | NATTY CONGEROO & THE FLAMES OF RHYTHM

WORLD in the Bedouin Tent

AMUSE MANOUCHE | COYOTE | NATALIE GRAY | HORSES ON THE BEACH | JESSE SMITH | JG COLLECTIVE

LADY NADE | BETH MORRIS & THE MOONRISERS | CHARLOTTE CAMPBELL | BLOC OFF THE WALL

VISUAL ARTS

HAUT DE GAMME | TAYO IRVINE HENDRIX | THE BARKER GALLERY

I SPY CONTEMPORARY: TOMMY GURR | PANTER & HALL | AMBER GALLERIES | PUNCHBOWL GALLERY

NINA BROOKE | THE DRANG GALLERY | FI HUNTER | MIKE CLANCY

CHRISTOPHER TOWNSEND | SIMON PROBYN | HOLLY BENDALL | FRED GORDON

HELEN GORDON | GEORGIA TUCKER | HANOI ART HOUSE: LEN GIFFORD | BETH RUSBY

CLARE BIGGER | NICOLA GODDEN | TLH | EVANESCENT BY ATELIER SISU

Audi High RISE artists & sculptors BEATRICE GALLETLEY | CONRAD CLARKE | ROBERT WARE | AMIE ELIZABETH WOLO

PLAYDATE at HENLEY FESTIVAL

JONNY AWSU, & HIS AWARD WINNING KIDS SHOW

MARCEL LUCONT: LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES – A GAMESHOW FOR AWFUL CHILDREN

OUT OF THE BOX | PROFESSOR STRANGE | FRED IN THE SHED

TWISTOPHER’S PUNCH & JUDY | DOODLE JAM WITH TOMMY GURR | BUBBLE FAIRY

CIRCUS SKILLS | ESAKELA FACE PAINTING | ZELVA | AND MUCH MORE!