Not far for jazz sax star to go

A HENLEY musician will be opening on the main stage in the Crooked Billet pop-up tent at next month’s Thames Traditional Boat Festival.

Art Themen, who lives in Wharfe Lane, can walk the short distance to Fawley Meadows where the “Trad” will take place over three days next month.

The jazz saxophonist will be the first to perform with his blues and jazz quartet on the Friday evening at 6pm.

Art has been playing on the world jazz circuit for four decades and has performed alongside Stan Tracey, Alexis Korner, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker, George Harrison, Mick Jagger, Chuck Berry, Joe Cocker, Rod Stewart and Bing Crosby.

His band will be followed by party band The Covered, playing pop, rock and soul covers from the Fifties to the present day.

On the Saturday, Ding Dong Daddios will play swing, jive and rock ’n’ roll followed by the Exmen, who comprise members of the Blockheads, the Kinks, the Animals, the Bay City Rollers and Thin Lizzy playing their chart-toppers.

On the Sunday, the Empire Choir will perform the patriotic anthems Land of Hope and Glory and
Jerusalem.

Tribute band Clearwater Creedence Revival, who reprise the hits of the Sixties band Creedence Clearwater Revival, will perform on the Sunday night for the second year running.

Crooked Billet chef patron Paul Clerehugh will be catering daily at the festival, which is now in its 44th year.

Visitors will be able to see Europe’s largest display of traditional wooden boats that celebrate the best in British boatbuilding and craftsmanship and evoke the nostalgia of boating from a bygone era.

Other attractions will include a fleet of Dunkirk “Little Ships”.

There will be amphibious and military vehicles and the Bremont First World War air display team together with PA 474, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Second World War Lancaster bomber.

Other attractons will include vintage cars, commercial vehicles and motorcycles alongside antique and architectural salvage, retro clothing, jewellery, bric-a-brac, river and motor memorabilia and craft stalls.

Tickets can be bought online in advance at the discounted price of £12.

• The Thames Traditional Boat Festival runs from Friday, Sunday, July 14-16. For more information, visit tradboatfestival.com