Diana Ross, Rick Astley & McFly headline Henley Festival
Acts performing this July have been revealed
Last updated 24th Jan 2025
The Henley Festival have this morning (Friday 24 January) confirmed the line-up of artists for the 2025 event held 9–13 July.
Floating stage headliners including Diana Ross, McFly, Rick Astley, Matteo Bocelli, Jamie Cullum and Hacienda Classical.
Legendary singer Diana Ross will be joined for the first time ever by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, opening this year's Henley Festival on the iconic Floating Stage on the Thursday night.
Also performing on Thursday, band McFly who with 21 years is pop music still remain the youngest band to ever have a debut album go straight to number one, outranking The Beatles.
Jo Bausor, CEO of Henley Festival said: "To have an evening that you can go to, completely fabulous in the true sense of the world - just all the colour, sound and light coming at you - is really life affirming and I think that's what people look forward to the most."
She added: "It's always a bit of a challenge because we're a small independent festival. We've had big acts before and word gets around about what it is to play at Henley.
"It's so different for the artists to come here, to play on a stage on that's in the river and be surrounded by a really glamorous audience - so they really love it."
The festival has also announced iconic singer-songwriter Rick Astley will headline on the Friday evening of the Festival, alongside an epic big swing band. Over his career, he has performed at numerous iconic venues such as the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 2023, and headlined multiple world tours, including a sold-out tour in 2024.
Also taking to the stage, Matteo Bocelli, Jamie Cullum, Hacienda Classical, Ellie Sax, Jo Whiley’s Festival Anthems, Yolanda Brown’s Bob Marley Songbook plus comedy from Ed Byrne, and Ivo Graham.
Billed as the UK’s only black-tie music and arts festival, the stars will appear alongside a world-class music programme of pop, world, classical, folk and jazz set as well as comedy and cabaret, art galleries and sculpture installations, roving performers, as well as dining, drinks, dancing and fireworks.
Henley RISE
Henley Festival is also a charity with a mission to support the next generation of talent through its RISE programme. As part of the Festival’s incredible line-up, the RISE stage gives a unique platform for emerging musicians and visual artists, as well offering opportunities for young people aspiring to work behind the scenes.
Ms Bausor said: “It’s an honour to be continuing our RISE programme into yet another year, supporting young and emerging artists by offering paid opportunities to perform, exhibit or complete work placements. It’s at the core of everything we do as a festival and there is no greater privilege than helping these incredible young artists and students kickstart their careers in roles across the cultural spectrum.”
Henley Festival will present the second ever Westcoast RISING Star Award – celebrating outstanding achievement and great potential – to Manchester-based singer, songwriter Hetta Falzon.
Hetta Falzon says:
“I feel so honoured to have won this award and so grateful to be a part of such a wonderful event and community with RISE. I am so excited to share the stage with so much other talent and feel so lucky to be a small part of something so great!”
Westcoast, a Berkshire based technology company distributing some of the world’s leading tech brands, are continuing their long association with Henley Festival in 2025 and to support RISE, Henley Festival’s charitable programme.
For more details head to www.henley-festival.co.uk