Nile Rodgers & CHIC

Chic are an American disco and R&B band that were founded in 1976 by guitarist Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards. The group, still fronted by Rodgers, are best known for hit songs including Le Freak, Dance Dance Dance, I Want Your Love, Good Times - the latter of which provided the bedrock of The Sugarhill Gang's A Rapper's Delight, the first multiple-platinum Hip Hop single. The group regard themselves as a rock band for the disco movement 'that made good on hippie peace, love and freedom'. In October 2012, Chic were nominated for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the seventh time.

Nile Rodgers, whose 1958 Fender Stratocaster has played on an estimated $2bn worth of hit music, also has numerous producer credits to his name - including Let's Dance, David Bowie's biggest-selling album, and Madonna's blockbuster album Like a Virgin, plus records by Sister Sledge, Duran Duran and Diana Ross. In March 2013, Rodgers was profiled in the highly rated BBC4 documentary special, Nile Rodgers: The Hitmaker.

It was old school friends Jan, Andrew and Simon pursuing their near-obsessive love of soul music and '70s funk that inspired them to form The Brand New Heavies.

Early hits Never Stop and Dream Come True were original chunks of organic funk that earned the band a reputation as a formidable live act and their reinterpretations of popular standards, such as Midnight At The Oasis, Carole King's You've Got A Friend and the Stevie Wonder classic I Don't Know Why (I Love You), brought major global chart success.

Having made their mark originally with the immensely talented vocalist N’Dea Davenport, they were later fronted by Siedah Garrett, Carleen Anderson and Sulene Fleming. While vocalists may come and go, BNH continues to be the project of core members Simon Bartholomew and Andrew Levy, while their 2019 album 'TBNH' features Beverley Knight and Angie Stone, amongst others.

Legendary actor, host and broadcaster Craig Charles is one of UK’s most beloved Funk and Soul DJs. From Robot Wars to Red Dwarf, Craig has now grounded himself as a Funk & Soul icon after 10 years of broadcasting on BBC 6 Music with their primetime Saturday night show.