Rye Arts Festival is one of the best multi-arts festivals not just in the South East but the whole of England. And it starts on Friday September 13, with a world-class mix of contemporary and classical music, authors, speakers, film, theatre and much more through to, and including, September 29.
The 60 events are sandwiched between showcases for Rye talents on the opening and closing days. Friday 13th starts with the wonderful young artistes from Rye Dance Centre who will be performing a selection of dances from their successful festival season. This annual event is not to be missed and will take place this year in Rye Community Centre.
And the Festival closes with a ‘Sunday Soiree’ at 5pm on September 29 in the Queens Head with Timberlina and Dr Aspalls. Billed as musical reflection on life with jazz standards and an agitated piano cabaret, it is going to be fun. And it is free!
Back to the future though. After we have had a chance to see the dance stars of the future, there follows a packed programme of artists from all around the world, before Sunday 29th focuses on the Rye talent once again.
About a dozen events have sold out already but here’s a pick of highlights of the first week’s events:
Kicking off with contemporary music, Saturday September 14 serves up a real treat. Nancy Kerr (vocals, fiddle and guitar) with James Fagan (vocals, bouzouki, guitar and piano) have the awards to match their undoubted talent. They have twice taken home the ‘Best Duo’ title at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
The National Youth Jazz Orchestra or NYJO makes a welcome return to Rye. But, of course, the musicians are completely different this year and this is your chance to see the stars of the future. NYJO’s former members include Amy Winehouse, Sam Brown, and David Arch (whose eponymous band is the house combo on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing). This year’s 24-piece orchestra will be playing on the opening Sunday, September 15, at 7pm at the Milligan Theatre in Rye College.
Friday evening on September 20, Rye Community Centre will be gig central for The Wave Pictures. The three-piece band can be loosely categorised as indie, but they have been compared to The Smiths, Bob Dylan, Jonathan Richman and the Grateful Dead. And they are a live band, born to gig!
The classical music programme starts on Saturday September 14 with a concert by the leading British violinist Tasmin Little accompanied by Martin Roscoe on piano. This will be the last chance for the Rye audience to listen to Tasmin playing live. Earlier this year, Tasmin shocked the music world by announcing that she will no longer perform on the concert stage, anywhere in the world, from summer 2020.
The Festival also welcomes back Laura Snowden – a young guitarist who was the first graduate of the instrument from the world-famous Yehudi Menuhin School in London with funding courtesy of no less than the Rolling Stones! Laura is playing at Winchelsea Church on Monday September 16 at 7:30pm.
And on Friday 20th a real treat is in store for lovers of organ music as Dr David Flood, the Organist and Master of Choristers at Canterbury Cathedral comes to give a recital on the organ at St Mary’s Church at Rye.
As well as meeting the demands of his day jobs at Canterbury since 1988, David is in demand around the world to give performances and he regularly tours the United States playing the best organs they have to offer, so the Festival is delighted that he has been able to find time in his busy schedule to come to Rye and play the organ. The recital starts 7:30pm and will last for an hour and a half.
Then take a look at some of the literary offerings. Saturday September 14 marks an inaugural CRYME Day. This whole day is a small festival within a festival and will be a great opportunity to meet, listen to and eat with four well-known crime writers – Simon Brett, Martin Edwards, William Shaw and Lynne Truss – and to find out tricks of the trade and what makes them tick. Tickets are available for just the morning or afternoon programme for those who prefer.
Sophie Hannah is an internationally bestselling writer of her own fiction, but in 2014 her career took a new turn when she took on Agatha Christie! Not combatively, of course. She had the blessing of Agatha Christie’s family and estate, to write an entirely new Poirot novel.
The published book – The Monogram Murders – was an instant hit and a top five bestseller around the world. Two other Poirot novels have followed. On Thursday September 19 at 7pm come and find out how Sophie came to Poirot and the process of getting inside the mindsight of the Sleuth and, of course, his creator. And find out what makes a novelist tick!
Tickets for all the events are on sale online or call the Box Office on 01797 224442 and some tickets are also at Grammar School Records in the High Street in Rye.
Image Credits: Rye Arts Festival .