ONE of the headlining acts appearing at this year’s Hedon Festival #HEDFEST16 is ‘Henry Priestman & Les Glover‘ brought to Hedfest by reCOGnition. And for Henry, the former main songwriter in the band The Christians and with nearly 40 years in the music business, it’s something of a homecoming.

Henry, along with his longtime sidekick Les Glover, will be starting the Saturday afternoon entertainment at ‘The Church’ at Hedfest – and it’s especially nostalgic for him because he was born only 300 yards away from the St Augustine’s venue down Church Lane.

Hedon-born Henry Priestman has an impressive CV in the music business as a musician, singer, and songwriter. His biography on his website reels off a list of celebrity names and institutions that will make you go goggle-eyed, but before you get bogged down in all that, you need to click on one his tracks and from that you will realise that having Henry perform at Hedfest is a real coup for the festival. Before I did anything else I played Valentine Song performed by Henry and Les and was immediately hooked and became a fan! I suggest you do the same!

I asked Henry who was born in 1955 what it felt like coming back to play Hedon after having left East Yorkshire to go to art college in Liverpool in 1975.

Henry Priestman photo by Viceversarobbi

“I’ve passed through a few times, usually to come and see the old haunts, see how it’s changed but not too much. The chippy’s still there on corner of St Augustine’s Gate!…the clay pits have gone, mind… as kids we loved it there.. was like swallows and amazons.

“Then there was Lewis’ Bakery opposite Town Hall, and John Lewis was my age, had a guitar (and all the Beatles, Kinks and Stones singles) my brother had a guitar and I had a snare drum..that’s where it all started…!

“So yes, you could say Hedfest is a bit of a homecoming…first time I’ve strummed a guitar in Hedon since 1966! (‘cos we moved to Burton Pidsea area in ’66).”

Henry has received much media coverage during his recent career and a lot of this focuses on how satisfied he is with life at the moment performing at intimate venues with Les Glover, enjoying his singing and reflecting his life-experience in the music. This satisfaction is revealed in his music with a heraldic and optimistic style that is sure to prove a hit at Hedfest 2016.

Henry Priestman and Les Glover perform at the reCOGnition stage #Hedfest16 at St Augustine’s Church on Saturday 13th August starting at 3.15pm.

Start with the videos then visit the rest of the website… and then buy your entry wristbands!

Preview by Ray Duffill.

Visit: www.henrypriestman.com/video/

Photos of Henry: With many thanks to Viceversa Robbi of the reCOGnition stage.

Wristband sales: *ADVANCE prices £4 adults (green), £2 youth 6-16 (blue and yellow), family buy 2 adults, 2 youths for £10.

(*Note: More expensive on the day at £5, £2.50 and £12).

Look to buy your wristbands (kindly sponsored by Dennis Estate Agents) at the following locations in Hedon: Hedon Town Hall, John Dennis Estate Agents, Beckett’s Newsagents – (Adult wristbands on sale only), Queen’s Head pub, Haven Arms Restaurant and Bar, The Hed’On Inn and Royal British Legion Club.