Nile Rodgers and Jess Glynne to star in special Eisteddfod shows

Kings of disco Nile Rodgers & CHIC and pop superstar Jess Glynne will perform headline sets at two special shows for Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod next summer.

Legendary music pioneer Rodgers will star at the Pavilion on Thursday July 11 while chart record holder Glynne will headline on Friday July 12.

Supporting Nile Rodgers & CHIC will be Brit singer-songwriter Sophie Ellis Bextor and 80s-inspired contemporary pop band Deco. 

Speaking about the Llangollen date, Rodgers said: “The UK is my home from home so despite the fact that it’s not even winter yet I’m excited to be announcing that we will be bringing you good times this summer.”

Jess Glynne, who has announced the show as part of her UK summer tour, said: “I can't wait to get back on stage and go live for all my people! It's gonna be a good year... let's go!”

Rodgers is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee and a multiple GRAMMY Award winning songwriter, composer, producer, arranger, and guitarist with more than 200 production credits to his name.

As the co-founder of CHIC, he pioneered a musical language that generated chart-topping hits such as Le Freak, Everybody Dance and Good Times that sparked the advent of hip-hop. 

His work with CHIC and his productions for artists such as David Bowie, Diana Ross and Madonna have sold more than 500 million albums and 75 million singles worldwide. 

His innovative, trendsetting collaborations with Daft Punk, Avicii, Sigala, Disclosure and Sam Smith reflect the vanguard of contemporary music. 

His work in the CHIC organisation including We Are Family with Sister Sledge and I’m Coming Out with Diana Ross and his productions for artists like David Bowie (Let’s Dance), Madonna (Like A Virgin) and Duran Duran (The Reflex) have sold more than 500 million albums and 100 million singles worldwide while his innovative, trendsetting collaborations with Daft Punk (Get Lucky), Daddy Yankee (Agua), and Beyoncé (CuffIt) reflect the vanguard of contemporary hits.

Jess Glynne is the only British female solo artist to ever score seven UK Number One singles.

The news she is heading to Llangollen follows the arrival of her latest single Friend of Mine after the summer banger What Do You Do?

Both singles mark a new and more personal chapter for the GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter, who has delivered some of the most memorable dance-pop hits of the past decade. 

Smashing her way into the nation’s consciousness as the vocalist on Clean Bandit’s 2014 Grammy Award-winning Rather Be and Route 94’s My Love, Glynne has since become one of the UK’s biggest acts with hits including I’ll Be There, Hold My Hand and Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself. 

Her two previous Platinum-selling albums both became Number One records, she has collected three Ivor Novello nominations, won a GRAMMY, racked up nine Brit Award nominations and 1.2 billion streams.

The headlining shows are the latest to be announced as part of a new partnership between the Eisteddfod and Live Nation promoters Cuffe and Taylor.

Indie superstars Manic Street Preachers and Suede’s double-headlining show at the iconic peace festival on Friday June 28 sold out within an hour of going on sale and tickets are available now for double platinum and BRIT award-winning artist Paloma Faith who will head to Llangollen on Friday June 21.

Cuffe and Taylor co-founder Peter Taylor said: "We have presented numerous shows with both Nile Rodgers & CHIC and Jess Glynne. Both are incredible performers who will bring their own unique style to Llangollen ensuring audiences enjoy amazing live music.

“Nile Rodgers & CHIC perform hit after hit making for an absolutely brilliant night out, while Jess Glynne is a truly acclaimed British female artist.”

Chair of Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod Sarah Ecob added: “When we revealed our partnership with Cuffe and Taylor we said we would be making some huge announcements, and these are massive.  

"Jess Glynne and Nile Rodgers &CHIC are international superstars at the top of their game. We can’t wait for them to come to Llangollen for our brilliant peace festival.” 

* Tickets to both shows go on general sale at 9am on Friday October 27 from llangollen.net and www.ticketmaster.co.uk