The Sidmouth International Jazz and Blues Festival 2025 took place from Friday, May 23 to Monday, May 26: four days of exceptional live music with a stellar line-up of world-class, internationally acclaimed artists.
The banners proclaimed: “Where the sound meets the sea” and indeed that is exactly what the punters got, in spades. The sun shone, the people came, and the music was sublime.
But all of this does not happen without an extraordinary amount of demanding work and fundraising beforehand which started as soon as the festival of 2024 ended. Ian Bowden, who founded and created the incredible Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival, is the mastermind behind this festival with his two directors, Vicki his wife, and Kate.
In Sidmouth, the festival offers an extensive free educational programme of workshops, masterclasses and workshops and a free open stage in the Peacock Gardens with three days of incredible music.
The reasons that this festival is so successful are that the Sidmouth Town Council sponsors it to the tune of £20,000, enabling the team to achieve so much and that all the local businesses get involved and offer sponsorship, too. The economic benefits to the town of all thousands of people flocking in to experience the variety of music are both understood and appreciated. Wherever you go in Sidmouth there is a real buzz: the town comes together and delivers. It is an amazing atmosphere.
Ian, Kate and Vicki sent this message to everyone in Sidmouth after the incredible festival: “From the festival directors, our incredible team and volunteers, a heartfelt thank you for all of your support, sharing our vision, and embracing great live music in your most stunning seaside town.”
The established and respected Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival is happening at the end of August 2025 and this year the festival celebrates its thirteenth year. However, without support on Sidmouth lines what will the organisers feasibly be able to provide and afford to include in respect of free music events and an education programme?
In these ever-increasing challenging times, many festivals are either cancelling all together or are set to never return. The passionate and dedicated team behind the Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival will surely need all the help that they can muster to continue to deliver this incredibly popular annual event for Rye.
This year’s festival programme includes several exceptional world- class intimate concerts at St Mary’s church, Rye and tickets are currently on sale for five of the announced acts: Nubyian Twist, Toby Lee, Courtney Pine, Ruby Turner and Davina and The Vagabonds.
You can purchase tickets here.
You can purchase tickets at ryejazz.com
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Kt bruce , Kt bruce .