Chilfest’s Funky Friday line-up is revealed!

Sister Sledge will be performing at Chilfest's disco funk-themed Friday. Below, Jocelyn Brown

Chilfest – set to take place in Pendley Meadow, Cow Lane this July – is today revealing its funky Friday line-up with international stars Sister Sledge topping the bill.

Famed for disco hits We Are Family, He’s the Greatest Dancer and Lost In Music – the troupe of siblings are among a star-studded selection for the first day of the extravaganza, which is back for the third year running and debuting a three-day programme.

Also gracing the stage on the same day are soul/funk outfit Shalamar, credited with introducing the body-popping phenomenon to the UK, as well as R’n’B and dance singer Jocelyn Brown and bands Odyssey and Shakatak.

Jocelyn Brown will be performing at Chilfest's disco funk-themed Friday. Photo: Cat Bradley

Event organiser Steve Butcher said it’s the first time his brainchild festival has sourced artists from over the pond to fly over especially for the live outdoor event.

Director of Universal Event Production Steve said: This year, we really wanted to do something different for the Friday. Shalamar called us, and from there we started to put together a disco funk evening and we are blown away by the line-up. It is the first time we’ve brought artists over from America to perform in Hertfordshire.”

Steve, who lives in Tring, revealed tickets are selling better than ever, with predictions showing the Saturday could be completely sold out by mid-May.

Children’s tickets are already sold out, so now any little ones hoping to soak up the sun and tunes will have to be bought an adult ticket.

Steve said: “It’s nice to do something fairly amazing in the town I live in.

“It’s unbelievable what goes on in Tring – from the comedy and Shakespeare festivals to Chilfest – for a small town, there’s a lot going on.

“This will be the third year of Chilfest, and this is the biggest uptake so far in ticket sales so we are blown away.

“We were adamant that we weren’t going to carry on after last year – but I was amazed to see the outcry from the public. That swayed us to give it another go.”

Chilfest 2015 takes place on July 10 and 11. Saturday’s line-up, already announced, includes Billy Ocean, ABC, Bad Manners, Limahl and Sonia. Visit www.chilfest.co.uk for more.