The full programme of world-class events making up the 2019 Rye Arts Festival has been announced and tickets are now on general sale. There are around 60 ticketed events, from September 14 to 28.
There is something for everyone and you can take your pick from contemporary and classical music, books and talks, walks, drama and film as well as exhibitions. As a taste of what’s on the menu here’s a sample, starting with a Books and Talks event.
On Sunday September 22, William Thomson will be speaking at the Rye Harbour Sailing Club, with the theme ‘Seas the Power!’ William has been crowned ‘The Prince of Tides’ by the Daily Telegraph and has written The Book of Tides and Tides and the Ocean, which show clearly where his interests lie. The youthful author is a world leader in sharing knowledge of the sea with the aim of making it safer for people to have exciting, satisfying and ultimately safe adventures.
In The Book of Tides he provides a richly illustrated guide to Britain’s rivers and shores for all those who love water and the natural world. The books were inspired by a journey around the nation’s coastline in a classic VW camper van with his young family and faithful dog!
In the Classical music section, the Festival is delighted to welcome back Laura Snowden. She has an amazing pedigree. The young guitarist was the first graduate of the instrument from the world-famous Yehudi Menuhin School in London (famous for being Nigel Kennedy’s school) with funding from the Rolling Stones.
Last year Laura played Rye Arts Festival with a lunchtime concert at Iden Church. Her playing was so brilliant (and she handled an unexpected break when an audience member fainted) the Classical Music Director at the Festival, Alison Moncrieff-Kelly, immediately asked her to come back this year to play an evening concert at a bigger venue, so Laura is playing at Winchelsea Church on Monday September 16 at 7:30pm and is not to be missed.
The contemporary music programme has lots of British folk royalty playing (who have been previewed in back issues of this paper) but it is also global in outlook and the organisers have booked Mampama to play on Saturday September 28 at Rye Community Centre. The nine-piece band are based in Kent and London, but their musical hearts reside in Africa.
Mampama play infectious music that not just shows but celebrates the influence of Ghanaian ‘High Life’, Sierra ‘Palm Wine’ and Kenyan rhythms. It’s going to be a hot, hot night as the audience get into the grooves of Africa, with the Rye audience swaying to the sounds coming from the stage.
This will be a highlight of the Festival for those who love good-time music, and anyone who came last year to see Mose Fan Fan (who died recently) and Kanda Bongo Man a couple of years ago will not be disappointed by what is on offer this year.
Tickets for all the events are already on sale on line and at the Box Office at Phillips & Stubbs in Cinque Ports Street or ring 01797 224442.
Image Credits: Rye Arts Festival .