Chaka Khan, Mel C and Sister Sledge among The Cambridge Club Festival 2024 headliners
The Cambridge Club Festival is returning next summer to its much-loved orchard setting with a line-up of huge dance, disco, soul and funk stars.
Taking to the main stage will be a host of international acts, including Chaka Khan, Earth Wind & Fire Experience by Al McKay, Gabrielle, Incognito, former Spice Girl Melanie C, Sister Sledge, Soul II Soul, The Family Stone and more. Plus, there will be comedy acts and children’s entertainment.
The three-day feel good festival of music, arts and culture, supported again by the Cambridge Independent, will run from Friday, June 7 to Sunday, June 9 at Childerley Orchard on the outskirts of Cambridge. More than half the music acts will be female stars. Tickets are on sale from Friday (November 24).
Chaka Khan will close the weekend on Sunday with her iconic voice and signature style that has left an unforgettable influence on generations worldwide. As a 10-time Grammy Award-winning superstar, she has helped to define music genres of pop, soul, jazz, and R&B with timeless hits like I’m Every Woman, Ain’t Nobody and I Feel for You. Celebrating 50 years in the music industry, Chaka Khan became one of the latest inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year.
The festival’s managing director, William Young, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be back with an amazing line-up for 2024, just a few months after sharing our best-ever festival together. Chaka Khan and Earth, Wind & Fire have always been right at the top of our all-time wish list, so we’re so thrilled to have them perform.
“Plus, we’ve been able to keep general ticket prices steady – which we know is especially important to people at the moment. With another huge headliner to announce in the coming weeks too, we’re already looking forward to another wonderful weekend in June next year!”
One of the most influential disco, R&B, and Soul groups of all time, Earth Wind & Fire Experience by Al McKay will step out onto the stage on Saturday for what promises to be a funk-fuelled set that reignites the spirit of the original band. Earth Wind and Fire Experience is led by Al McKay, the guitarist and songwriter from the original band.
MOBO-winning singer Gabrielle makes a triumphant return to The Cambridge Club for a fun-filled, singalong of timeless British R&B / Soul classic hits including Dreams, Out of Reach, and Rise. Another MOBO winner, the leading 80s party starters, Incognito will carry the revellers on a positive wave of jazz, funk and soul with hits such as Don’t You Worry ’Bout a Thing and Everyday.
Psychedelic-funk legends The Family Stone, originally led by Sly Stone, will also perform. Their hits include Family Affair, Everyday People and Dance to the Music.
Further acts on the main stage line-up include legends of disco, pop, funk and soul, Sister Sledge. The crowd will enjoy hits such as He’s the Greatest Dancer, We are Family and Lost in Music. Double Grammy Award-winning and five-time Brit Award-nominated pioneers Soul II Soul are sure to get everyone up dancing with their classics Back to Life and Keep on Movin’.
Former Spice Girl Melanie C is also signed up to sing at the festival. As a solo artist, Melanie has achieved over three million album sales, two number one singles, and six top 10 singles, including the hits I Turn To You and Never be the Same Again, featuring the late Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopez.
Founded on a passion for feel-good tunes and dancing, The Cambridge Club Festival aims at bring together friends and family of all ages to share in a celebration of music, arts and culture.
Music is only one element of The Cambridge Club’s offering. Next year, festival-goers will be able to enjoy an enhanced food experience at Food for Thought – the dedicated dining area that was a hugely popular addition in 2023. This includes a variety of live, interactive experiences centred on food and dining, and a range of cuisines from international food traders.
Following the successful expansion of its camping facilities last year, The Cambridge Club will continue to offer a luxury glamping experience located right next to flower meadows, with a choice of pre-pitched tent or space to bring your own, as well as pitches for campervans. There will be enhanced parking on site, and the apple orchard, which is the centrepiece of the site, will be at full capacity – providing more space for a huge variety of acts and on-site entertainment. The new and enlarged orchard space will house three stages: Discovery Den, Imagination Station and Auditorium of Intrigue.
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; Mister Good Times, Norman Jay, plus DJ Paulette, Melon Bomb, Little Gay Brother, Siggy Smalls, Sophie Lloyd, WAZE, and more.
Other areas include the campers’ exclusive After Dark stage, which will host the Party-Time Continuum – a blend of bangers and anthems until the early hours. The Imagination Station – the festival’s expanded family entertainment and children’s activities area, will offer family entertainers as well as fairground rides for the whole family to take a spin on.
The Auditorium of Intrigue will host a yet-to-be-announced line-up of comedy stars and thought-provoking discussion panels, also centred in the apple orchard. Previous acts have included Ed Byrne, Marcus Brigstocke, Andrew Maxwell and Emmanuel Sonubi.
In 2024, the ticketed areas will include:
- The Clubhouse, an on-site hospitality area, which offers a five-star festival experience – with complimentary food and drink, fast-track entry, luxury toilets, and more. Here, revellers can indulge in a menu of gourmet cuisine and drinks; relax in high-quality décor; and enjoy a private outdoor space, complete with a stage view.
- The Paddock, an exclusive, private area in prime position on the festival site with views of the main stage – designed to help festival-goers unwind, relax and enjoy a memorable experience.
- Standard tickets, general access to the festival site, including the Main Arena and The Orchard.
To make sure that the festival remains affordable in the current economic climate, The Cambridge Club has kept general ticket prices comparable with 2023's edition.
With earlybirds tickets now sold out, adult first release three-day weekend tickets start from £167.50, and day tickets from £52.50. These prices exclude booking fees. Discounts are available for under-18s.
For tickets and more, visit thecambridgeclub.co.