Friday, August 24 marked the beginning of the Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival with free acts around the town as well as paid for concerts with great musicians including Joan Armatrading, Zina McFarlane, Courtney Pine and Ronnie Scott's Blues Explosion, as well as legend Herbie Flowers.
King Fu Slipper, a six-piece band playing original music, opened with an electric mix of jazz, funk and afrobeat infused with exciting rhythmic and melodic ideas. Playing original music, they excited the audience.
It was impossible to move through the crowd and the stewards tried very hard to protect Rob Smith, BBC1 television presenter, who was interviewing Zana and Herbie, and also exchanging a few words with the locals on the programme. Luckily, the rain held off until near the end.
Monday was the first day of music at every corner of the town. In the Buttermarket, we heard the Rye Bay Crew working hard to be heard over the jazz band Neil Angilley Trio in front of the Kino. Another busy day. The afternoon continued with Joe Corbin, solo songwriter and guitarist, an amazing blues and soul singer, while the Fabulous Red Diesel, as always, drew the crowds in to the Buttermarket.
Sadly, Sunday saw torrential rain but this did not stop musicians and audiences enjoying themselves. In the evening John Crampton with his steel guitar and harmonica set the packed the Waterworks, on the corner of Rope Walk, alight with his slide and steel blues pick. Continuing to the Queens Head in Landgate, the Nampama African band got people dancing. A joyful evening.
