Superstars Lionel Richie and Grace Jones have been announced as headliners of next summer's The Cambridge Club Festival.
One of the biggest festivals in the East of England has announced the first acts set for its 2023 edition at Childerley Orchard, just 10 minutes outside of Cambridge.
The Cambridge Club returns for another three-day, feel-good festival of music, arts and culture from Friday, June 9 to Sunday, June 11.
The star-studded line-up features internationally renowned icons Grace Jones, Lionel Richie, Kool & The Gang and more.
Grace Jones has been announced for The Cambridge Club Festival 2023. (Image: Andrea Klarin)
Slave to the Rhythm and Pull Up to the Bumper star Grace Jones will take to the main stage next year, while four-time Grammy winner Lionel Richie is guaranteed to have everyone dancing All Night Long with his catalogue of anthems across a glittering career. Expect to hear Hello!
Disco royalty Kool & The Gang will add to the mood of Celebration, bringing their legendary funk and soul-infused dancefloor classics to the festival field.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor will play The Cambridge Club Festival in 2023 (Image: Supplied by The Cambridge Club Festival)
Murder on the Dancefloor hitmaker Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be stepping out of her kitchen and onto the stage for what is set to be a very groovy disco performance.
When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going chart-topper Billy Ocean will bring his greatest hits and crowd favourites to get everyone on their feet.
Further acts on the main stage line-up include live superstars and scene-leading DJs from across the decades, among them the legendary DJ Jo Whiley, who will bring a 90’s anthem-fuelled set.
Funkster Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club makes a triumphant return as chief connoisseur of funk and soul like no other and disco trio Odyssey will make for an ultimate throwback.
Lemar will play The Cambridge Club Festival 2023 (Image: Supplied by The Cambridge Club Festival)
R&B icon Lemar will bring his soothing, melodic vocals, and rising star Mica Millar will perform tracks from her acclaimed debut album Heaven Knows.
Uncle Funk’s Disco Inferno are also back to give a fiery funk-fuelled set complete with the most outrageous outfits.
This year, the festival will see an expansion of its camping facilities – from pre-pitched and glamping, to a bring-your-tent, plus more space for campervans.
There will be parking on-site for the first time, and the beautiful apple orchard (centrepiece of the site) will be extended to full capacity – providing more space for a huge variety of incredible acts and on-site entertainment.
William Young, the festival’s MD, said: “We can’t wait for this year’s festival. It’s going to be fuller and funkier than ever before.
"The team have worked hard to upgrade every aspect of our festival-goers’ experience – from expanding camping, to opening up the orchard, to parking on site, and everything in-between.
"We are excited for everyone to see our expanded offering across music, culture, arts, food, and loads more. It will be by far and away our biggest disco yet at Childerley Orchard!”
The new and enlarged orchard will house three stages – the Discovery Den, Imagination Station and Auditorium of Intrigue.
DJ Fat Tony will be at The Cambridge Club Festival 2023. (Image: Supplied by The Cambridge Club Festival)
The Discovery Den will be a dance music hub between the trees, with leading DJs spinning from day into night, including kingpin of the 80s club scene DJ Fat Tony, drag queen-come-DJ extraordinaire Jodie Harsh, plus Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy, Denise Van Outen, WAZE, Bestley, ABBA Disco Wonderland and more.
As the sun sets, the party doesn’t stop, as the campers' exclusive After Dark stage hosts Party-Time Continuum – with sets from Eats Everything, Dan Shake, The London Disco Society, Stuart Banks and more for a blend of bangers and anthems until the early hours.
Acclaimed Fleetwood Mac tribute Rumours Have It will bring a nostalgic DJ performance, which remixes and reimagines the band’s beloved hits.
The Imagination Station – the festival’s expanded family entertainment and children’s activities area – will see CBBC legends Dick & Dom take the stage along with Magic Star’s The Rainbow Collection to perform their beautiful versions of well-known lullabies, nursery rhymes, covers and original songs.
Camp Cambridge, hosted by Tootles and Nibs, will play host to a range of adventures and games, arts and crafts, story-telling and live sing-a-longs for all ages to enjoy.
The Auditorium of Intrigue will host a hilarious line-up of comedy stars and thought-provoking discussion panels, also centred in the apple orchard, with acts including Ed Byrne, Andrew Maxwell, Emmanuel Sonubi, Glenn Wool, Ninia Benjamin, Andy Askins, Cerys Nelmes, Paul Thorne, Kazeem Jamal, and Kate Williams.
Tickets and more information are available at www.thecambridgeclub.co
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here