Now in its fifth year the Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival takes place August 25-29 and promises wonderful vibrancy and fun for lovers of great music and families.
The festival is recognised as one of the best boutique music festivals of its kind in the UK and provides a wide range of top class headline ticketed concerts and many free live music events at local venues.
Latest announcements include the inclusion of the fabulous Brass Funkeys, an eight piece New Orleans style marching band that will bring excitement and fun to the streets of Rye on Saturday August 27.
Hold onto your hats, fasten your seat belts and get ready for take-off as this London based edgy band of experienced musicians bring their own style of jazz, funk and fun to many locations locally.
The Brass Funkeys have been kindly sponsored by the Rye Retreat, the Rye Lodge Hotel, the Apothecary Coffee House, and a number of private patrons.
The Butter Market, below Rye Town Hall and the nearby Kino cinema terrace, play host to a superb variety of free live jazz, blues, funk and soul performances featuring talented musicians and bands from Rye, Kent, Sussex and London which takes place August 27-29 and are sure to attract large crowds.
Street food will be available including jambalaya and a BBQ. There will also be face painting for kids and a fully licensed bar will be serving great local beers including the festival’s very own Jazz Top created by the festivals’ brewery partners the Old Dairy Brewery.
These free vibrant performances start from 1pm onwards and take place throughout the afternoon and into the evening. Bands include Rye’s very own unique band the Brillos, Eastbourne’s Rod Pooley Funky Organ Trio, Tunbridge Wells based the Violet Jive will be performing their distinctive blend of jive and jazz.
The Brillos
Hastings favourites the Fabulous Red Diesel will take you to your funky place with their amazing brass section and retro funk. Rye’s favourite blues man, Louis Turpin and his blues trio will be serving up the very best in blues and roots, and Brighton based Paul Richards and his outstanding Latin Trio will be performing the coolest mix of up-tempo samba and bossa nova rhythms.
The amazing London based jazz pianist Dom Pipkin and his band the Ikos perform their unique blend of classy Honky – Tonk jazz and New Orleans foot stomping music on Sunday August 28 from 1pm.
Dom Pipkins performance is dedicated to the memory of the late John Izod who was a great supporter of the Jazz Festival. A special thank you goes to Concepts of Rye who are sponsoring this special music event.
A special alfresco jazz brunch also takes place at the Kino Cinema featuring the multi- talented Dan Carter Trio from 10:30am until 12:30pm on August 28-29.
On Thursday August 26Â the Jazz Nights All Stars perform the very best in modern and classic jazz at the Mermaid Inn, Rye and local music man and pianist Phil Law and special friends perform an intoxicating mix of jazz, blues and soulful Rock and Roll at the Standard Inn.
The Rye Bay Crew
Swinging cats the Rye Bay Crew perform at the Queens Head, Rye on Friday August 25 from 8.30pm. Other superb not to be missed events take place with Andy Williams Jazz guitar at La Maison clothes boutique from 6.00pm and Jazz Train Latin Jazz Duo will be performing at the Grapevine Champagne and Jazz Bar from 8.00pm onwards.
There are many other live performances taking place throughout Rye over the entire weekend including free street music with Terry Seabrook’ s jazz Triversion at the Landgate on Saturday August 27 from 3pm and a very special jazz and champagne event on the Terrace at the Rye Lodge Hotel on Sunday August 28, 1-3pm. For tickets for this event please contact the Rye Lodge directly on 01797 223838.
Please be sure to check out the festival website for full event details across the festival. Tickets are also available from two locations in Rye, Grammar School Records in the high street and at the Grapevine champagne and jazz wine bar at the top of conduit hill.
Tickets are selling fast for the festival’s headline concerts at St Mary’s church for Mica Paris, UK’s Queen of Soul on Saturday August 27 and the double bill finale jazz concert with acclaimed jazz singers Liane Carroll and Joe Stilgoe.
For more updates go to the festival website www.ryejazz.com to see the full line-up of ticketed and free music events.