The 2015 Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival, now in its 4th year, has announced an array of superb world class headline acts and events featuring the best in Jazz, Blues, Soul, Funk, R&B, Latin and World Music.
THE BOUTIUQE MUSIC FESTIVAL THAT PACKS A PUNCH
The festival takes place in the beautiful town of Rye in East Sussex from Thursday 27th – Monday 31st August and includes many ticketed and free music performances.
Outstanding Headline blues acts include the ex – Manfred Man lead singer Paul Jones and his amazing Blues Band. Paul Jones is one of leading figures in the UK blues scene and fronts his national blues radio programme on BBC Radio 2 each week. The blues band perform on Saturday 29th August at the Milligan Theatre in Rye. The festival is delighted to announce that blues singer and guitarist Wilko Johnson ex-front man of Doctor Feel Good will be headlining our blues series at the Milligan Theatre in Rye on Sunday 30th August, if you know your blues then you will recognise these two top names.
Jazz artists include the immensely talented jazz singer and pianist Theo Jackson, jazz and swing singer James Tormé, who will be performing a very special show celebrating the music of great legends, from Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Peggy Lee and Nat “King” Cole, to Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, and of course, his own father, 3-time Grammy Award winner Mel Tormé.
Other world class artists include American Soul Diva Avery*Sunshine who supported Gregory Porter in the UK in 2014, Mercury prize award winning jazz trio GoGo Penguin from Manchester, UK’s number 1 male jazz singer Ian Shaw and his Trio, the Neil Angilley Trio, acclaimed Jazz singer Liane Carroll, Jazz Diva Kitty LaRoar, Cuban band Son Yambu, Emily Saunders and the Latin Mix, Gwyneth Herbert and many more.
The charismatic and legendary Bass player Herbie Flowers also performs two spectacular jazz breakfast and afternoon tea concerts at The George in Rye.
New acts just announced include Jo Harman, voted ‘Female Vocalist of the Year’ at the British Blues Awards and internationally acclaimed jazz saxophonist Andy Sheppard and his outstanding band Hotel Bristol.
The festival programme also includes 5 special music cinematic screenings at the newly opened Kino Cinema in Rye. Screenings include films such as Ray, Dream Girls and 2 very unique films one being ‘Bayou Maharajah’ a feature-length documentary about the legendary New Orleans pianist James Booker and the other being a film called ‘The Sound After The Storm’ which tells a story in which the “music born from slavery” is reborn in response to hurricane Katrina´s devastation 10 years ago this August. There will be a commemoration of Hurricane Katrina held at The George on Sunday featuring Dom Pipkin, who will be speaking about his time in New Orleans and performing with his band of Dom Pipkin and the Ikos.
Free events take place throughout Rye on Saturday 29th, Sunday 30th and Monday 31st August at the Butter Market and Landgate, a marching band 2nd Line Fat Tuesday take to the streets on Saturday 29th August and various free gigs take place at many local fringe venues.
We would advise you to book your accommodation early and details of where to stay can be found on the festival website. We are also offering camping and car parking for the first time this year.
Rye comes alive with great music this August bank holiday weekend so book early and plan ahead now.
Event details and tickets can be purchased from the festival website at: www.ryejazz.com
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