'HOT Right Now' singer Rita Ora, art-rock icon Grace Jones and disco legend Nile Rodgers are among the headliners announced today for this year’s Henley festival.

The showcase of music, comedy and art, which takes place beside the Thames from July 11-15, is the first major Oxfordshire festival to reveal its line-up, which will also see American singer Curtis Stigers & the Ronnie Scott’s Big Band presenting a night of Frank Sinatra’s tunes and an evening of music by the English National Opera.

Rita Ora will open the festival – a charity event with a strict black tie dress code – on the Wednesday night.

The global pop star, with four chart-topping tunes to her name, including Radioactive and I Will Never Let You Down, will get the ultra-smart festival off to an explosive start, with 2017 hits Kiss Me, Your Song and Anywhere and tunes from her eagerly-awaited new album.

Former Bond girl Grace Jones returns to Oxfordshire after her acclaimed headline set at last year’s Wilderness festival, with her trademark energetic stageshow, elaborate costumes and such hits as Slave to the Rhythm and Pull Up to the Bumper.

Multi-Grammy-winning composer and producer Nile Rodgers will come armed with such dancefloor classics as Le Freak and Good Times.

Saturday night headliner Curtis Stigers teams up with The Ronnie Scott’s Big Band to present ‘Sinatra At The Sands, while the extravaganza comes to a close on the Sunday with the English National Opera performing under the baton of Martyn Brabbins. Their repertoire includes much-loved pieces from Carmen, The Marriage of Figaro, Madam Butterfly, Turandot and La Traviata as well as a little Gilbert & Sullivan.

The festival continues its commitment to jazz and soul with Ray Gelato and the Giants, Miss Kiddy and the Cads, the Coal Porters, the Staks band, King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys and Purdy.

More international sounds come from Son Yambu, Le Bistrotet, the Bikini Beach Band, Solasta Trio, Witney kora player Jali Fily Cissokho and his Coute Diomboulou Band, folk artists Solasta, Maz O’Connor, rock act Against the Grain and Oxford (via Henley) singer-songwriter Megan Henwood.

There is also a line-up of up-and-coming artists from the area include British country band Pearl, featuring Harriet James; singer-songwriter and pianist Lorne, Reading songwriter Alex Green, formerly of Attention Thieves, indie-pop artist Cecil, acoustic folk and roots band WolfNote.

The comedy offering is equally impressive, with Paul Merton, Lee Nelson, Lucy Porter, Mark Watson, Dominic Holland, Jon Culshaw and Bill Dare among those providing the laughs.

Food comes from Michelin-starred chef Angela Hartnett, Jimmy Garcia’s BBQ Club, Lobster & Champagne, Spice Merchant, Henley’s Hotel du Vin and the nearby Crooked Billet at Stoke Row.

Angela says: “I am absolutely delighted to be working closely with the Henley Festival for the first time and to serve the food that I love at such a great and iconic event.”

A festival spokesman said: “As the UK’s only black-tie boutique festival, Henley Festival is glamour personified, offering Michelin starred food, award winning comedians, Turner Prize nominated artists and the biggest names in popular, world, jazz and classical music.

“Many festival goers arrive by boat, and the green lawns of the festival are transformed into a Great Gatsby vision, as black tie clad revellers spill across the festival site, champagne in hand, while fireworks explode overhead.

“Established 36 years ago as a classical music charity event, Henley Festival continues to be run on a not for profit basis supporting charitable projects at both a national and local level.

“This year proceeds from the festival will go to two charities.

“Dedicated to supporting young people with depression, and encouraging discussions around mental health, the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust was set up in memory of a young man who took his own life whilst suffering from depression.

"The Teenage Wilderness Trust supports students who find it difficult to engage with mainstream education by offering re-engagement courses using bush craft, wilderness learning techniques and practical life skills to encourage students to get back into learning.”

Tickets go on sale on Monday, February 5.Go to henley-festival.co.uk