With the 2025 Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival just around the corner, the team behind the weekend’s events have been super busy working behind the scenes making final preparations to what will be a fabulous four days of live music. Festival director Ian Bowden looks ahead to the bank holiday weekend.
The festival is bringing some seriously good international musical talent to Rye with seven ticketed headline evening and afternoon concerts at St Mary’s. Acts like Ruby Turner, James Taylor Quartet, Courtney Pine and Nubian Twist perform all over the world, and to see them up close in the truly amazing surroundings of Rye’s stunning church will be a real privilege.
But it’s not just about the headline acts. Rye Jazz is about sharing the best music around town with events in pubs and bars and free live music performances outside the Butter Market, which is located directly below the Rye Town Hall from Saturday 23 to Monday 25 August.
We are incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed to our crowd funder, helping make these performances possible. Special thanks go to our generous private patrons: Terry Weston, Charlie Parsons, Barry Nealon, Bruce Hayter, Roger Sexton, and others who wish to remain anonymous.
We also extend sincere thanks to our festival business partners for their invaluable
support: Bramley & Teal Holiday Cottages, Phillips & Stubbs Estate Agents, Heringtons Solicitors, Sheppex Asset Finance, Martello Developments, Wilson, Wilson & Hancock, Jempson’s Supermarkets, Layfield’s, The Mermaid Inn, On Stage and many others.
Butter Market performances include the Marcus Bunton Jazz Trio and the Connor Selby
Blues Trio on Saturday 23 August from approximately 2pm onwards. Marcus first gained broader attention as a finalist on Channel 4’s The Piano. Even as a teenager—often noted to be around 13 years old during early trio performances—his artistry and compositional voice stood out. Connor Selby voted ‘young artist of the year’ at the UK Blues Awards for three consecutive years, the fast-rising star echoes the trailblazing roots-based voices that have penetrated the mainstream in recent years.
Sunday, August 24 the Butter Market sessions start from 1pm and feature the amazing street sounds of ‘Fat Brass’ playing their infectious freestyle jazz from 3pm. Dom Pipkin and his trio makes a welcome return to the festival from 4pm with his unique style of jazz and blues that is guaranteed to get those feet tapping.
Monday, August 25 the Butter Market plays host to the funky sounds of the James Morton organ trio from 1pm. James is one of the most exciting saxophonists of his generation drawing on a diverse array of musical styles, including jazz, funk, hip-hop and soul. Festival favourites the Violet Jive perform from 3pm as they perform their hip swaying blend of Latin and jazz.
Closing the Butter Market performances on Monday, August 25 is the wonderful award –
winning blues and roots guitarist and singer Martin Harley.
Additional complimentary music events are hosted at a variety of fringe venues throughout the festival, including the Ship Inn Rye, the Grapevine champagne and jazz bar, the Lookout, Layfield’s Secret Garden bar terrace, the Waterworks Brewery Taproom in Playden, the Old Bell, and William the Conqueror at Rye Harbour.
There are a limited number of tickets still available for the headline concerts at St Mary’s church for Nubiyan Twist who open the festival on Friday, August 22 as they bring their infectious blend of jazz, hip-hop, afrobeat, Latin, soul, reggae, and dance. Saturday, August 23 sees rising blues star Toby Lee performing an afternoon concert followed by the incredible jazz saxophonist Courtney Pine performing his special show ‘House of Legends’.
Sunday, August 24 a thrilling afternoon concert with a powerhouse jazz trio: the multi-award winning Ian Shaw, acclaimed vocalist Polly Gibbons, and James Pearson, pianist, and artistic director of Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club. In the evening, the much-loved British
Jamaican R&B singer Ruby Turner returns with her phenomenal band. Ruby’s career
includes seventeen albums, countless collaborations (Bryan Ferry, UB40, Steve Winwood, Mick Jagger), and a key role in Jools Holland’s R&B Orchestra.
Monday, August 25 the incredible Davina and The Vagabonds bring a rousing afternoon
show blending American jazz, blues, and soul, inspired by Fats Domino, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Aretha Franklin, and Tom Waits. Closing the festival: the legendary James Taylor Quartet (JTQ) with a full band, horns, and vocalist Yvonne Yanney. Formed in 1987, JTQ are renowned for their signature acid jazz sound and iconic version of the Starsky and Hutch theme.
For information and to purchase tickets go to www.ryejazz.com
Image Credits: Rye Jazz .