This weekend sees the 2021 Rye Jazz & Blues Festival finally underway with three days of lively and entertaining street events commencing in Rye on Saturday afternoon. These follow the initial launch on Thursday August 26 with a well-attended beachside concert by Paul Carrick at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea to which most of the ticketed concerts have had to be transferred this year due to Covid-19 restrictions on the use of St Mary’s church.
Festival director Ian Bowden told Rye News that “The festival is immensely proud to be bringing back the music to the streets of Rye this August bank holiday after what has been such a hugely challenging 18 months”
Ian added that “Music inspires and provides wellbeing and joy, our free live music programme over the bank holiday will bring the long awaited return of music back to the streets of Rye”
“The festival is once again very proud to be working with the wonderful charity The Music Well and hopes to encourage visitors to donate to the charity which will again have a presence at the festival”
Since its inception 10 years ago, one of the core festival aims is to have a positive impact on the town in terms of both tourism and spend. “We want the businesses and the economy of Rye to benefit from the influx of additional visitors which the festival brings to the town” said Ian who went on to assure Rye News that the festival will be back as strong as ever after the hiatus last year “The festival is again proud to be supporting talented international and home-grown musicians” he added.
The comprehensive and informative free festival guide has now been published and can be picked up from the usual local outlets – including the Kino Cinema, Rye Library, the Station and Adams stationers – with full details of what’s on. This information can also be found on the festival website, www.ryejazz.com.
Image Credits: Nick Forman , Rye News Library .