Be sure to be in Rye this bank holiday weekend, August 24 to 26 for the eighth annual Jazz & Blues Festival – it’s going to be a full-on weekend with live music all over town. A lot of the outdoor music is free at the outdoor Kino stage and various locations around the town. Why not show us your keyboard skills on the five ‘street pianos’, decorated by Rye College students? Come and see the marching band, take part in the music workshops and book your tickets for the incredible headline concerts in St Mary’s Church.
Its going to be an action-packed weekend for all the family with live jazz, blues, funk and soul provided by hugely varied and exceptionally talented local and international musicians. Think of it as New Orleans in Rye and you will get the picture.
The vibrant free music is from midday to 8pm each day on the outdoor stage, expect to hear the absolute best in cutting-edge music. Afternoon and evening headline concerts will be in St Mary’s Church and to open the concerts on Saturday August 24, Rumer, the wonderful and highly acclaimed singer will perform her own songs and a selection from her collaboration with Burt Bacharach during an afternoon performance. Rumer is travelling from America especially to perform for us, which will undoubtedly prove to be an unforgettable concert.
The Queen of Soul Beverley Knight (sold out) performs with her eight-piece band on the evening of August 24 as she celebrates an incredible 25 years as a major performing and recording artist. Beverley has performed with some of the biggest names in the music business and it’s no wonder tickets have sold out so quickly.
On Sunday August 25 New Orleans Blues legend Jon Cleary – who hails originally from Cranbrook – performs an afternoon show, concentrating on his own music inspired by his 35 years spent in New Orleans. This promises to be a funky affair and one definitely not to be missed.
On the evening of Sunday 25, American blues icon, Lucky Peterson performs with his all-star band, nominated by Jazz FM for ‘Best Blues Act in 2018’. Lucky is always in huge demand performing to sell-out audiences across the world – a seriously talented musician, so get those tickets now.
On Monday August 26, it gets seriously funky with the James Taylor Quartet (JTQ) performing a special and vibrant afternoon show with his four-piece band. James is one of the great British Hammond-organ players of his generation, be sure to bring your dancing shoes for this gig.
Guitar legend Richard Thompson closes the festival on the evening of Sunday August 26 with a special solo concert. A guitar virtuoso and one of the country’s greatest songwriters, Richard has been hailed as ‘a perennial dark-horse contender for the title of greatest living rock guitarist’ by Rolling Stone magazine.
St Mary’s Church has a finite capacity and therefore there is a limited availability for tickets for all the headline concerts. Early booking is essential if you want to experience any of these amazing artists in such an iconic yet intimate setting. Don’t miss such a rare opportunity, book your tickets now on www.ryejazz.com You will not be disappointed.
Image Credits: Rye Jazz and Blues Festival .