The festival kicks off with an evening of free music performances with ‘Funky Friday’ taking place Friday August 24 on the festival’s outdoor music stage in front of the Kino from 6:00pm – 10:00pm.
Confirmed top line bands include Dom Pipkin and the Ikos from London who will be performing their unique blend of funky New Orleans jazz and blues followed by one of the most respected jazz funk bands in the South East, Hardlines with a line-up that consists of some of the finest session and touring musicians in the music business.
Acclaimed British Soul singer Tony Momrelle will perform an afternoon concert at St Mary’s on Saturday August 25 with his incredible band.
With a music career spanning 20 years Tony is one of the most respected British soul singers of his generation and has been credited by the Guardian as the “21st century Stevie Wonder”. (Stevie Wonder, who is only 68, is of course, still very much with us in the 21st century) so this concert is a must to attend if you appreciate the very best soul music.
Tony has performed with some of the greatest artists in the world, including; Incognito, Gloria Estefan, Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Sade, Gary Barlow, Andrea Bocelli, Gwen Stefani, Robert Palmer and in autumn 2016 Tony supported the legendary Earth, Wind & Fire on their sold-out UK tour.
The Ronnie Scott’s Blues Explosion headline an afternoon concert at St Mary’s on Monday August 27 and are at the top of their game in the world of blues and jazz
The band comprises the very best UK blues musicians, with an unparalleled collective CV of collaborations which includes: Eric Clapton, Annie Lennox, Herbie Hancock, George Michael, Joe Bonnamassa, Jools Holland, Tom Jones, Van Morrison, Craig David, Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse, Jamie Callum, and Ten Years After, just to name a few.
This concert will deliver the best possible blues experience you can imagine as the band perform the finest Classic Chicago, Delta and cutting-edge blues.
Rye can expect the very best of local and regional talent who will be performing a varied and dynamic mix of music styles including Jazz, Blues, Roots, RnB, Soul, Cuban, Latin and Funk. The atmosphere is amazing and the streets of Rye come alive with sounds and colours similar to that of New Orleans but still with a distinctive vibrancy and charm that is very much unique to both the festival and to Rye itself.
Additional artists will be announced over the coming weeks and be sure to book the dates in your diary for this coming August bank holiday weekend.
For the full programme and to purchase tickets go to www.ryejazz.com
Images: Ian Bowden