The eleventh Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival takes place from Thursday 24 to Monday, August 28 encompassing the August bank holiday weekend.
This year’s festival line up is as strong as ever with seven exceptional world-class headline afternoon and evening concerts taking place at St Mary’s Church in Rye. The festival has a wonderful reputation of presenting the highest quality concerts at the church with specialist staging and lighting; creating an exceptional and intimate atmosphere.
Opening the festival on Friday, August 25 is the incredibly talented singer, songwriter and pianist Laura Mvula who will be performing a special evening show with two grand pianos courtesy of Yamaha Pianos who are partnering the festival this year. Guest pianist Oli Rockberger will be joining Laura as they perform repertoire from her highly acclaimed debut album ‘Sing To The Moon’ which coincides with the tenth anniversary of the album’s release in March 2013.
Additional stellar afternoon and evening concerts at the church include London-based Snowboy and The Latin Section, Europe’s leading Afro-Cuban jazz ensemble led by multi–percussionist, Mark Cotgrove; acclaimed British-Jamaican R&B singer Ruby Turner; Grammy award winning American blues and country singer Mike Farris; baritone Sicilian jazz and soul singer Mario Biondi; multi-talented jazz singer, songwriter and pianist, Joe Stilgoe; and closing the festival on Monday, August 28, The Brand New Heavies perform their unique blend of legendary acid jazz, funk and soul.
Three intimate evening ticketed events have been added to the festival programme with cabaret sessions taking place at the Brewery Yard Club in Rye from Friday to Sunday August 25-27. Performances include Will Collier’s Chet Baker project, an absolute ‘not to be missed’ by jazz aficionados; acclaimed and high energy blues singer Collette Cooper and her band, likened to the singing style of Janice Joplin; and on Sunday August 28, Kitty LaRoar and consummate pianist Nick Shanklin perform their unique style of classic jazz standards, original repertoire, and deliver joyous interaction with the audience.
The festival programme includes fabulous free live music at many venues within Rye during the festival. The Grapevine Champagne and Jazz Bar hosts thirteen shows from August 24-28 – its the perfect place to relax and enjoy superb music with friends and sample fine wines from the bar’s extensive list.
The Ship Inn Rye presents five exceptional free live music events from August 24-28 featuring the best in jazz and blues with award–winning Martin McNeill; the Terry Seabrook Jazz Trio; The Real Capitano, delivering edgy gypsy jazz; stomping Delta blues with Jeff Horsey, the ‘One Man Blues Band’; and the hugely respected blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter Roger Hubbard.
Live music also takes place at The Old Bell in Rye on Thursday August 24, William the Conqueror in Rye Harbour on Sunday, August 27 and an afternoon of cool relaxing jazz on the terrace of the Lookout Rye on Sunday, August 27.
The festival’s three days of outstanding free live music performances take place on a dedicated outdoor stage located on the terrace of the Kino Cinema over three days from Saturday 26 to Monday, August 28. Performances take place from lunchtime onwards each day and feature top quality emerging and established musicians performing jazz, blues, funk, Latin and Cuban music from across the region and from further afield.
The festival still needs additional funding support to provide all the fabulous free music during the festival so please donate to the festival’s crowdfunder – every donation will make a huge difference to the festival programme.
For the full programme of what’s on where and to purchase tickets go to www.ryejazz.com.
Image Credits: Permission Joe Stilgoe , Permission Laura Mvula , Deans Chalkleys , Permission Mike Ferris , Permission Mario Biondi , Purple Orange , Carl Hyde .
I support many of the creative festivals that take place in the town; however, I’d like to ask the organisers of Rye Jazz Festival to kindly remove the numerous posters and other advertising banners that they have illegally erected on public land and infrastructure in and around the town. It’s an eyesore. For example, there is a large banner on the pedestrian crossing railings in Fishmarket Road; there is a poster on a road sign in Deadmans Lane and dozens of posters have been illegally placed on lamp-posts, telegraph poles and roadside verges within Rye and for miles around the town. All this advertising for Rye Jazz Festival is prohibited on public land and on street furniture. People in Rye already have to put up with sporadic illegal advertising on public road verges by certain estate agents, often attempting to advertise houses several hundreds of yards away. These and other organisations know they’re doing the wrong thing, but they keep on doing it. Why don’t RDC and the town council get their acts together and simply remove this illegal advertising as soon as it appears? Other, more effective (and legal) advertising methods exist.
(Unless on the A259) Posters/Banners etc on street lamp columns, bollards and most verges require a licence from East Sussex County Council Highways. However, in practice, it does not have the resources to enforce this form of flyposting. The Town Council has no powers in relation to flyposting but does have a policy designed to try and manage the quantity – and location/s – of posters and banners. The Jazz Festival material is tolerated because, although it is a commercial venture, there is an appreciated ‘chunk’ of free entertainment provided. Strictly speaking, A boards on pavements promoting shops etc require a licence – but these appear to be tolerated by Highways unless overly obstructive to pedestrians.
I have flagged up this overkill of advertising particularly as some of it is on ESCC road signs and other public furniture. I am also angry to be told that the person putting up the posters was actually seen to be removing some for an event (Battle of Britain Commemoration) which had not yet taken place and was replacing them with Jazz Festival ones. Not good behaviour!