Nile Rodgers and Chic performed at the Salt and Tar festival in Bootle, where a tearful tribute to his late partner Bernard Edwards left a lasting impression on the audience.
Opening Acts and Hits
Scottish singer Brooke Combe warmed up the crowd with songs recorded at Liverpool's Kempston Street Studios, including her 2025 Northern Soul-inspired single "How Can I Tell You? (To Love Me More)".
Nile Rodgers and Chic opened with "Le Freak" and "Everybody Dance", getting the crowd singing and dancing. Later, they shifted through hits from artists he's worked with, including David Bowie's "Let's Dance" and Madonna's "Material Girl".
Emotional Tribute
Rodgers, known for his upbeat persona, turned sombre before introducing the next song. He told the audience: "For this next song, please, you got to give me a little space. This song, I always dedicate to my partner Bernard Edwards. Rest in peace."
He continued: "If it wasn't for Bernard, I probably would not be standing in front of you here tonight. So, every time we play this song, I can't tell you how many years I've been doing this, a lot times it makes me cry and I mess up a little bit. But please give me some room here because this is a tough one for me."
He added: "I'm a two-time cancer survivor. And, unfortunately, Bernard didn't make it."
A Lasting Memory
As emotions rose, Rodgers broke into tears, covering his face and taking a deep breath before introducing "Thinking of You" by Sister Sledge, which he co-produced and wrote with Edwards.
Rodgers and Edwards met in 1970 and became one of the most influential writing and production duos in music history, working with Sister Sledge and Diana Ross, and creating hits for their own band, Chic. Edwards died in April 1996 of pneumonia at age 43.
The audience came expecting to hear songs from one of the most celebrated musicians in the world, but it was a rare glimpse into his personal life that will live with them for a long time.
