This year’s festival is more compact bijou by design and will include a series of of free and ticketed presentations that will provide wonderful variety.
The two main headline concert events at the wonderful St Mary’s Church in Rye provide the opportunity to experience the very best in world class music and both of these events have been kindly supported and assisted by a number of regional, local businesses and private patrons.
Although a smaller programme this year the quality of music remains of the very highest standard and without compromise. There will also be a range of free live music events taking place at local venues all of which have been kindly arranged and coordinated by these businesses.
Jazz Nights kicks of a jazz presentation at the Mermaid Inn on Thursday August 25 with the very finest in jazz which includes a jazz supper on the evening. On Friday August 26 there will be a range free live music events at local venues and cool summer jazz guitar with Andy Williams at the La Maison Boutique from 6.00pm – 9.00pm.
The main weekend includes a series of wonderful top draw free live music events at both the Butter Market and outside the Rye Kino Cinema Terrace from lunchtime onwards and throughout the afternoon. These performances include the very best of superb Blues, Jazz, Funk and Cuban music which will take place on Saturday 27, Sunday 28Â and Monday August 29. These events have been kindly supported and partnered by many local businesses and private patrons and thank you to you all.
The official charity partners the Kent Surry and Sussex Air Ambulance Trust (KSS) have also kindly supported these free vibrant music events and we would like to encourage audiences to donate to their brilliant work throughout the festival weekend. For more information go to; www.kssairambulance.org.uk
Headline world class concerts will take place at the stunning St Mary’s Church, Rye with the UK Queen of Soul Mica Paris headlining on Saturday August 27. It is quite a coup to secure Mica for the festival this year who is undoubtedly one of the UK’s finest and most respected female singers with a career full of Top 10 hit singles and albums worldwide. The range, power, and sheer soulfulness of Mica Paris’ singing made an immediate impact on the UK music scene and she has collaborated and worked with music legends such as Dione Warwick, Prince, Bobby Womack, David Gilmore and many others.
This will be a very special night and one that you are your friends will remember for many years to come!
Many other live music events take place at local venues within Rye on Saturday at The Standard Inn, The Queens Head and La Maison Wine Bar.
Sunday August 28 includes a continued series of superb music events at local venues and a very special outdoor jazz performance ‘Jazz & Champagne’ on the Terrace of the Rye Lodge Hotel from 1.00pm – 3.00pm which is always incredibly popular. Sunday also sees Dom Pipkin the New Orleans jazz maestro performing at La Maison Wine Bar and additional free music takes place at the Swann Emporium in the afternoon.
On Monday August 29 Liane Carroll and Joe Stilgoe perform together as a double bill jazz finale headline concert at St Mary’s Church Rye at 6.00pm. This truly is a world class concert not to be missed with two of the finest and internationally recognised singers of their generation.
Multi award winning Liane and Joe will be performing wonderful songs from their impressive repertoires. Both Liane and Joe are consummate pianists, songwriters and singers and have a wonderful way of really engaging with their audiences.
Other free music performances also take place in the mid and late afternoon on Monday at The Standard Inn, Simply Italian, The Queens Head, the Old Borough Arms and The Ship Inn all of which have been supported and arranged by these local venues.
There are also other events that will be announced over the coming weeks and these events include other activities that are being kindly organised by local groups.
For more updates please go to the festival website to see the fill line-up of ticketed and free music events.
Photos: Courtesy of the Jazz Festival