2:00pm Monday 26th July 2010
By Lucie Richards
Will Young
Henley Festival
July 7
HENLEY has become a by-word for elegant riverside events, but this festival strikes a wonderful balance between culture and carefree fun.
It was my first taste of Henley Festival – which ran from July 7 to 11 – but the opening night has made a convert of me.
It is certainly a classy event thanks to a black-tie dress code, giving women the chance to wear their best evening frocks, but the mood is anything but stifling and formal.
In fact, as soon as the lovely Will Young (pictured) walked on to the floating stage, without ceremony, ladies’ kicked off their heels to stand on chairs or danced in the aisles as dusk fell.
Headliners during the rest of the festival included Welsh Bass-Baritone Bryn Terfel, violinist Nigel Kennedy, the stars of West End musical Queen, and Ronan Keating.
But on the opening night, the self-assured Pop Idol star proved himself to be a true entertainer.
Young seemed totally at ease, bopping about on stage, and in between songs he regaled the crowd with seemingly spontaneous anecdotes, such as his grandfather’s penchant for Carol Vorderman.
The presence of members of his family gave the gig a more personal feel and this was reinforced by the intimacy of the stage, which was strikingly close and had no barriers to separate the crowd from the singer.
This led to an unusual – and highly amusing – sight of several women clad in evening dresses attempting to storm the stage at various times.
But an evening at Henley Festival is much more than a headline act and the entertainment continued well into the night at the festival’s various venues, after a sparkling firework display.
Strolling around the festival enclosure, the grounds were dotted with sculptures, including wire figures by Rachel Ducker and woodwork by James Golding, while several galleries exhibited work by a range of artists in various styles and media.
Before Young took to the stage, those who chose not to splash out on a meal at one of the various plush eateries – which this year included Heston Blumenthal’s Hinds Heat at Henley – laid out picnic rugs, or even picnic tables and chairs, in the car park.
It is not a cheap festival, and bubbly is the drink of choice, but the nectar tastes all the sweeter on a balmy evening in such sumptuous surroundings.
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