By Jessica Durston
The Forest Live team, (who host the summer concert series presented by Forestry England), have announced that Gregory Porter is the latest artist to join the star-studded bill.
Porter will perform at Westonbirt Arboretum for the first time next summer. The critically-acclaimed American jazz, blues, and soul singer will be taking to the stunning forest venue on Thursday 4 July 2024.
Gregory Porter’s last five albums have all reached the Top 10, with ‘Take Me To The Alley’ (2016), ‘Nat King Cole & Me’ (2017) and ‘All Rise’ (2020) hitting the Top 5.
A double Grammy-winner (Best Jazz Vocal Album for ‘Liquid Spirit’ (2014) and Best Jazz Vocal Album for ‘Take Me To The Alley’ (2017) and seven-time Grammy nominee, the singer and songwriter has amassed cumulative streams of 1.6 billion and counting.
A spokesperson for the artist said: “Since breaking through almost a decade ago with ‘Liquid Spirit’, Gregory has become a beloved part of the British cultural firmament. The Californian cat-in-the-hat has played at numerous festivals, including Glastonbury (where he wowed the Pyramid Stage) and Radio 2’s Live in Hyde Park.
“He performed multiple times for the late HM Queen Elizabeth II, most recently as part of her Platinum Jubilee celebrations, and has also appeared before HM King Charles III.”
Also performing at Westonbirt Arboretum next year, is pop princess Anne Marie (5 July) and disco icons Nile Rodgers & CHIC (12 July).
The full lineup and schedule is as follows:
Cannock Chase:
Thursday 27 June - Anne-Marie
Dalby Forest:
Saturday 22 June - Nile Rodgers & CHIC (and special guests Sophie Ellis Bextor, and Deco)
Delamere Forest:
Thursday 13 June - Becky Hill
Friday 14 June - Sting
Saturday 15 June - Nile Rodgers & CHIC (and special guests Sophie Ellis Bextor, and Deco)
Thetford Forest:
Saturday 22 June - Sting
Friday 28 June - Tom Jones (and special guest Gabrielle)
Sherwood Pines:
Friday 21 June - Nile Rodgers & CHIC (and special guests Sophie Ellis Bextor, and Deco)
Saturday 22 June - Anne-Marie
Sunday 23 June - Sting
Westonbirt Arboretum:
Thursday 4 July - Gregory Porter
Friday 5 July - Anne-Marie
Friday 12 July - Nile Rodgers & CHIC (and special guests Sophie Ellis Bextor, and Deco)
Furthermore, Forestry England says it uses the money Forest Live raises to maintain beautiful natural areas for everyone to enjoy, run important conservation projects and keep growing trees.
Last year the organisation planted around 7.4 million trees, caring for the nation’s 1,500 woods and forests sustainably, and welcoming 291 million visits in 2022-23.
A spokesperson from Forestry England explains: “Everyone in England lives within a one-hour drive of one of the nation’s forests. Over two million people have enjoyed the Forest Live gigs over the last twenty-three years.”
This year, Forest Live are presenting the concerts in partnership with Live Nation’s Cuffe & Taylor for the first time. These special gigs will take place at six forests throughout England:
Delamere Forest
Dalby Forest
Sherwood Pines
High Lodge Thetford Forest
Westonbirt Arboretum
Cannock Chase Forest.
Fans can sign up for more information and announcements at forestlive.com.
Pre-sale tickets were available from 9am yesterday (Thursday 7 December) and general sale started at 9am today (Friday 8 December).
Anne-Marie
Tom Jones
Becky Hill
Nile Rodgers and CHIC
Sting
