The 2017 Rye International jazz and blues festival takes place in our beautiful and historic town over the bank holiday weekend of August 24-28.
The festival attracts visitors from across the country and the South East, and offers quality world class headline concerts, free street music, an outdoor performance stage and many fringe music events, which makes the town come alive and provides the fun and vibrancy that resembles that of New Orleans.
This year’s programme includes a wide range of music styles and genres providing the very best in jazz, blues, R ‘n’ B, Soul, Folk, Roots, Latin, Cuban and contemporary music. 
Headline concerts take place at the stunning and intimate setting of St Mary’s Church throughout the festival and include Hue & Cry, where brothers Patrick and Gregory Kane will be performing a very special stripped back concert on Friday August 25.
To date they have sold in excess of two million records worldwide, and the duo made a huge impact in the late 80’s with the albums “Seduced and Abandoned” and “Remote”.
This special performance will include an eclectic programme of their classic hits, material from their awaited new album “Pocketful of Stones” and a contemporary repertoire performed in their own distinctive style with beautiful arrangements.
On Saturday August 26, American singer, pianist and composer Kandace Springs will be performing songs from her new album “Soul Eyes” with her gifted trio.
There’s an increasingly loud buzz around the 27-year-old Nashville-based singer-pianist who combines old-soul jazz sophistication with a tasteful touch of R&B and pop.
Eric Bibb, blues power house, headlines the St Mary’s stage on Sunday August 27, where blues meets gospel and soul when he sings from a beautifully realised repertoire of soulful, gospel-infused folk and blues; a melding of traditional rootsy American style with a subtle contemporary sensibility.
On Monday August 28 the festival presents a very unique and special afternoon concert with The Ronnie Scott’s All Stars live at St Mary’s church.
This fantastic show will take you on a musical journey of amazing music, providing you with an insight into the heritage of the world’s most famous and iconic jazz clubs.
Later on Monday August 28, west country folk singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Seth Lakeman, graces the stage at St Mary’s to perform an intimate unplugged solo concert.
Seth will be performing songs from his new album and other live favourites from his back catalogue. Seth’s eighth studio album “Ballads of the Broken Few” is a stunning combination of his dynamic song writing and playing, produced by Ethan Johns and the sublime harmony vocals of emerging young female trio Wildwood Kin.
Free music takes place at two dedicated outdoor locations within the heart of the ancient citadel over the main festival August weekend, and to add to the great music and atmosphere, street food and bar facilities are provided.
Other free events also take place at many fringe locations at local wine bars, hotels, pubs, restaurants, and freestyling brass bands will also wind their way through the cobbled streets of the town during the weekend.
For more information and announcements please do keep checking the website.
Photos: Ian Bowden