The Script open first night of Henley Festival for 40th celebrations

Last night, Henley Festival – the UK's only black-tie festival - returned for its unmissable 40th-anniversary celebrations. Headliners The Script gave an epic performance to kick off the festival in style, with Danny O'Donoghue immersing himself in the crowd, while Boney M also joined in the celebrations with a stellar performance in the Festival Club. Henley Festival is the only festival in the UK to have a floating stage which is built on top of the River Thames and is also the only festival in the UK where festival-goers can arrive by boat. More than 5,000 people attended the UK's most glamorous music and arts festival along the banks of the River Thames for its opening night.

Each evening at Henley Festival is brought to a close with a spectacular firework display designed by the passionate pyrotechnic professionals at Titanium Fireworks , the team behind some of the UK's biggest firework shows in the last decade including The Mayor of London New Year's Eve celebrations, Edinburgh's Hogmanay, Liverpool River of Light, Hull 2017 City of Culture, England 2015 Rugby World Cup, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the London 2012 Olympics. Henley is the only music Festival working with Titanium, and their extraordinary brand of sparkle is the perfect way to celebrate 40 years of magical and unforgettable memories.

Presented by Westcoast, the UK's most glamorous music and arts festival, is thrilled to reveal the unmissable line-up for this year's 40th-anniversary celebrations. Tonight, one the most successful artists in UK chart history, Craig David, will perform an epic evening of his best-loved hits. Twenty years since the critically-acclaimed album, Born To Do It, changed his life, Craig has catapulted back into the charts and into the nation's hearts – amassing over 5 billion streams worldwide on the way – and the demand to see his incredible live performances is higher than ever.

The legendary, incomparable Sir Tom Jones will return to Henley and the stunning Floating Stage on Friday evening to captivate the crowd with music from his 41st studio album Surrounded By Time. This record – which was recorded in his native Wales for the very first time and went straight to the top of the UK charts – is Tom's most personal collection to date, and further extends the extraordinary legacy of his career spanning over five decades.

On Saturday, revered DJ, broadcaster and global dance music legend Pete Tong, together with The Heritage Orchestra and Jules Buckley, will present an unforgettable evening of iconic classical electronic music. Inventively bold, Ibiza Classics will showcase Pete Tong's enigmatic reimaginations of classic house tracks, transporting the Floating Stage audience all the way from Henley to the White Isle for a balearic party like no other.

This year's festival will close with an extraordinary 40th-Anniversary Concert on Sunday evening, featuring an exclusive line-up of special guests to be announced. The Henley audience are invited to be part of something truly amazing as the festival wraps up five spectacular summer evenings by celebrating 40 years of unforgettable memories.

Henley is the festival for food lovers, with Michelin-starred chefs cooking up a storm in the past few years including Angela Hartnett MBE, Albert Roux, Michel Roux Junior and Daniel Clifford. New for 2022, Henley Festival will welcome the prestigious Dish to the stunning Riverside Restaurant. Proud to support British farming and seasonal, locally sourced produce, Dish will offer festival goers an outstanding fine dining experience of exceptional quality and innovative design. From fine dining to street food, the raft of pop-up bars and restaurants adorning the riverside is sure to tantalise all taste buds!

To find out more and to book, visit https://henley-festival.co.uk