While Rye has many music venues there are few that cater to all ages and families. At this year’s Green Waves Festival we have attempted to do that while making it free for residents and children. On Saturday and Sunday August 30 and 31 everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the variety of acts we’ve invited to participate.
Thanks to the expertise of Andy Crofts and community members we’ve assembled an eclectic line up of musicians. Andy organises the monthly Rye Variations gathering which is a platform for music and spoken word creations. Artists from Rother and beyond meet at the Queens Head and share their songs with an emphasis on original compositions.
Our opening musical ensemble is the Rye ukulele group to be followed by Tom Cole guitarist and Rebecca Stroud. They are both talented singer songwriters, while Tom plays excellent guitar, Rebecca backs her fabulous voice with keyboards.
At 6pm the Mighty Zircons, a six piece Rye and Hastings based reggae band, are guaranteed to get people dancing with their infectious rhythms and soulful vocals. They’ll be followed by the LKG trio from Medway who are a high energy, good vibes pop rock band very popular across Kent and making their first appearance in Rye.
The headliners of Saturday’s events are Rye’s own Rockitmen, well known to many of us from weddings, parties and pub performances over many years. Back by popular demand they are finally playing again at Tilling Green, the ancestral home of Tim, their leader. Their selection of popular danceable songs from the 60s to the 90s is sure to get everyone on their feet at some point.
Our Sunday the music kicks off with a bang, in fact many bangs, as the much loved Ryebellion Drummers lead a procession into the festival field. On stage our first act is the Music Well’s own Racketeers, led by David Kent, who practice weekly at the Tilling Green Community Centre so will feel right at home.
After lunch our pirate party will be graced by the sea shanty songs of the Rye Harbour Herrings who are featured at many local events with their original music written by leader Martin Bruce. They are followed by another Kent band, Something Else, who are favourites of Dan Lake and other residents and we’ve been very lucky to be able to book them. They’ll be wrapping up the whole event which ends at 4pm when tired dancing feet will be able to finally rest.
Image Credits: LKG Trio , Mighty Zircons – , Rockitmen , Something Else .