Despite his name, Henry Invisible – the original one-man-funk-band from Austin, Texas – is anything but when it comes to performing live on stage.
Henry, who has previously opened for the likes of George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Shuggie Otis, Gary Clark Jr, and Lauryn Hill – and also performed with funk icon Bootsy Collins – will be bringing some of that Texan charm to the Cambridge Club Festival on 7-9 June, when it takes place once again at Childerley Orchard.
With two shows on the main stage, alongside the impressive list of headliners, which includes Chaka Khan, Jessie Ware, and the Earth, Wind & Fire Experience, Henry – whose real name is Henry Roland – will also play two intimate sets for the VIP members with access to Club USA.
Club USA is a new addition to the event, presented by Visit the USA, the official guide for travelling in the United States of America.
A skilled multi-instrumentalist, Henry Invisible has redefined what it means to be a one-man-band, effortlessly juggling guitar, bass, percussion, vocals, keys and a virtual horn section as he captivates audiences with his inventive take on dance music.
We put some questions to the man himself.
Hi Henry, please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about what you do.
Greetings! I’m Henry Invisible, aka the One Man Funk Band based out of Austin, Texas. I’m a multi-instrumentalist, producer, live musician and DJ all about spreading magic through my music, and I can’t wait to share more of my solo performance with the Cambridge Club Festival!
How did you come to be part of this year's line-up at the Cambridge Club Festival? Were you previously familiar with the event?
I was invited to represent Austin, Texas by the Visit Austin organisation and was definitely familiar with the Cambridge Club Festival. I am incredibly excited to be included in this year’s line-up!
What can we expect at your show? We gather you'll be performing twice on the main stage and also be doing two intimate shows in the Club USA area?
The audience can expect an energetic performance with positive energy accompanied by upbeat dance music.
Henry Invisible shows are dance parties while I’m on stage switching between guitar, bass, keys, percussion and vocals. I am entirely looking forward to every single performance.
Who are you looking forward to seeing at the festival?
I’m a huge Chaka Khan fan! This was the cherry on top of an already magical weekend.
We understand you've worked with the likes of Bootsy Collins and George Clinton before? Tell us about your memorable collaborations.
Bootsy Collins discovered me on Instagram and invited me to audition for his The Power of the One album released in early 2020.
Bootsy has always been a huge inspiration for me and it’s an honour to befriend him and continue to collaborate, most recently at SXSW 2024.
I have shared the bill with George Clinton a few times and those shows were a blast musically.
Other outstanding collaborations that come to mind are Fred Wesley, who is featured on my song Because I Love Ya and Bernard Purdie, who added his disco-funk magic on my track Dance Music Saves.
Who would you like to work with on future projects?
I’ve got a track that I hear Mick Jagger on! I mean… dreams do come true. There are several producers and musicians that come to mind – Herbie Hancock, Maceo Parker, Jessie Ware… I’d love to collaborate with Rick Rubin someday.
How did you first get started playing music and at what point did you decide to try and follow it as a career?
I have been playing music since I can remember… At a young age, I avidly watched the musical guests on The Muppet Show and was heavily impressed by a rendition of George Harrison’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps.
It truly spoke to me and at that moment I would begin to take music more seriously. My Pops had a guitar at the house so I practised every day.
I suppose a pivotal point in my early music career was when I began making a consistent living with my positive music and connection to the audiences.
I have been blessed to open for greats such as Tito Puente with Celia Cruz at the Olympics, Tower of Power, Maceo Parker, Buddy Guy, and many more of my musical heroes.
In your opinion, is the famed live music scene in Austin as exciting now as it’s ever been?
The music scene in Austin has been and continues to be exciting with new groups and producers rising to the surface every few months or so.
I feel quite fortunate to reside in such a musical environment. This year, the City of Austin even proclaimed two ‘Henry Invisible Days’.
What are your plans for the rest of the year and beyond?
This year, I’ll be recording and releasing more singles towards the collection of a few different records. Stay tuned for the release of my next new single titled Fire & Grace coming out very soon.
More touring, festivals, and exciting collaborations are on the horizon for the rest of this year and next. Last thing I’d like to say: I am honoured to be performing at this year’s Cambridge Club Festival as this is my first UK performance with this project and it truly means the world to me.
Thank you in advance to everyone that catches one of my main stage sets, or perhaps a set in the VIP lounge. Please say hello, I look forward to meeting many new friends – I’ve got a sticker for you!
Peace, love, and happiness.
Henry Invisible will be doing his thing at this year’s Cambridge Club Festival, which takes place at Childerley Orchard from Friday, 7 June, to Sunday, 9 June, and is supported by the Cambridge Independent.
He will be performing on the main stage at 3pm on the Saturday and Sunday and will also be doing two intimate shows in the Club USA VIP area – times to be confirmed.
For more information and tickets, visit thecambridgeclub.co. For more on Henry, go to henryinvisible.com.
