Come & Sing Handel's Messiah in Peasmarsh!

Come and join a 'scratch' choir to sing Part 1 of Handel's Messiah, on Sunday 17 Nov at Peasmarsh Church! Friends of Peasmarsh Church are looking for singers to join in - young or old, strictly amateur or semi-pro: you'll all be welcome! The performance will be at 4pm and it will cost £5 to sing or just come along and to listen. There will be a rehearsal beforehand.

To find out more and to book you place, contact Jennifer Als on 01797 230324 or email jals@millwood324.fsnet.co.uk or Yvonne Jordan on 01797 230693

CaKE - Celtic Music at its Finest

On Thursday night Cathy Jordan and Eamonn Coyne will be joined by
Kris Drever from Orkney to play
Rye Arts Festival.

Cathy Jordan is best known as singer of Dervish, from County Sligo, one of Irish music’s most renowned and enduring line-ups and who played Rye Arts Festival a couple of years ago. She is regarded by many as the most distinctive voice in Irish music today and her ability to charm an audience – from children to grandparents and everybody in between – is a match for any performer in all of Ireland as anyone who saw Dervish in Rye will testify.

Kris Drever has risen to prominence in recent years as singer / guitarist with Lau (winners of Best Act at the 2013 BBC Folk Awards). His characteristic vocal style and rich songwriting have seen him draw increasing critical acclaim and a loyal following within the folk scene.

Rye Ukes warm up for Kanda Bongo Man

No sooner had the Rye Ukulele Experiment completed their World Tour at The Queens Head in Rye last Tuesday evening than they were called in to be support act for Kanda Bongo Man, coming on stage at Rye Community Centre 20 minutes later. The African master of Soukous music and his band were lost, broken down somewhere on the marsh, out of phone contact. And they should have been on stage 10 minutes beforehand! This was far too rock 'n' roll for the Rye audience. So the plucky midget guitar men and women gamely stepped into the breach, and won over the expectant but restless audience with a 40-minute set of pop standards. Many of the audience were visibly moved to tears!

Fair Play, It's Not Tom Jones, Bach; But We Love It!

Country music in the United States has the Carters as its first family. But even they pale into insignificance compared to the Bach family and its influence on baroque music in 18th century Europe.

The Bachs were baroque and baroque was Bachs! And Rye Arts Festival is going to enjoy a fantastic evening of music by the Bach family on Thursday 19th September at 7.30pm with the truly lovely St Michael's Church in Playden as the venue.

At the time the term 'Stylus Fantasticus' was coined to describe the style of music that is synonymous with the Bach family and their followers. Also, they were called Der Zauberkries (or The Magic Circle) in recognition of their preeminence.

And it is in homage to these masters that the Netherlands-based trio that make up Fantasticus take their name as well as the title of their concert.

Fletcher nearly killed Henry James in Rye

Henry James nearly withered away and died following his addiction to and obsession with masticating! The American novelist, who made his home in Rye East Sussex, was a disciple of the Great Masticator - Horace Fletcher, as was revealed by JC Hallman at a talk at the 42nd Rye Arts Festival on Saturday 14th Sept 2013.

Kids Events this Weekend

Part Punch and Judy show, part magic, a free show for kids and family kicks off this year's Rye Arts Festival.

Bertie Pearce is sure to provide a lot of fun for all the family in the yard outside the Fletcher Centre in Lion St (the old Library).

He will be doing two shows - one at 3pm and another at 4.30pm, so if you miss the first, why not pop along to the second one - you are bound to be amused. And if you aren't, you can ask for your money back!

Lunchtime Treats - Youth is on the Menu

Rye Arts Festival has two lunchtime concerts featuring young musicians under its Ryesing Stars banner
(it is a pun kind of town). The first, on Tuesday 17th September at 1pm in Rye's Methodist Church, features Canadian violinist Katie Stillman with pianist Simon Lane. The pair have been playing together since 2005 and have won numerous awards both jointly and individually. Their programme consists of work by Bartok, Kongold and Franck.

Henry James Brought to Life in Rye Tent

The James brothers

For the first time in 42 years, a marquee in Lamb House Garden will host the majority of literary events at the Rye Arts Festival.

Lamb House is quite possibly the most literary house in the UK, having been the home in the last 100 years to Henry James, EF Benson (of Mapp & Lucia fame), and Rumer Godden.

It is, therefore, quite fitting that the first event will be a talk by J C Hallman, who has written a study of the letters between Henry James and his brother William in the United States, which range across philsosphy, literature, science and much more.

Tickets for this talk are still available from the Box Office - telephone 01797 224442, or go to the website for more information on this and other events at this year's Festival by clicking HERE

Festival Kicks off with Symphony Concert

Just one week to the opening concert of the 2013 Rye Arts

Festival on Saturday 14 September.

And the Rye audience will have a treat with a symphony concert by Euphonia Works conducted by Alasdair Kitchen Tamsin Waley-Cohen on violin.

Alasdair has brought the Euphonia Works orchestra, comprising young and talented professional musicians at the start of their careers, to Rye for the last two years to perform at an Opera on each occasion. Rye Arts Festival classical music director Peter Brice liked them so much he has invited them back to play in their own right!

Pictures at an Exhibition

To coincide with Rye Arts Festival (which starts on 14th September), there are three new exhibitions at Rye Art Gallery opening on 7th September. Each exhibition features a local artist.

What's for Lunch?

Two lunchtime concerts are on the menu at this year's Rye Arts Festival in September. As part of the classical music programme, the Festival is continuing with its short series of 1pm concerts that were begun last year. And, as last year, young and upcoming artists will be coming to Rye, under the banner of Ryesing Stars, thanks to the generous sponsorship of The Worshipful Company of Musicians.

Walk on and Buy!

The walking and coach tours section of the Rye Arts Festival in September is selling out faster than hot cakes!

Extra WWII Walk Due to Demand

Due to heavy demand, a further World War II Walk has been added to this year's Rye Arts Festival on Friday 27th September.

Romney Marsh Concert Series Finale

The series of classical music concerts on the Marsh organised annually by the charity Jam finishes this weekend with two concerts; Friday 12th July at All Saints Church Lydd and Saturday 13th July at ST Mary in the Marsh.

Onyx Brass at St Mary's Rye

Onyx Brass, who have been described as 'The classiest brass ensemble in the UK' are giving a concert at St Mary's Church Rye on Friday (5th July) evening at 7.30pm.

Annual Classical Concert series on the Marsh and now in Rye thsi Friday!

The JAM Concert Series which each year features classical music at venues on Romney Marsh this year offers a concert on Friday 5th July at 7.30pm in St Mary's Church in Rye featuring Onyx Brass playing music from Gabrieli to Gershwin.

Launch now on 14th July

Sunday 14th July is the new Official Launch Day of the 2013 Rye Arts Festival. Friends, Members & Sponsors of the Festival will be invited to an afternoon party at the St Mary's Centre in Rye's Lion Street, where the full programme will be announced followed by drinks and nibbles.

The Launch Event date has been brought back from 7th July, which was announced at January's AGM, so as not to clash with the Men's Final at Wimbledon, which might have British involvement.

The new date, does of course, clash with Bastille Day, but all revolutionaries and and republicans are welcome in Rye!

Rye Arts Festival 2013

The Rye Arts Festival programme will be announced on 14th July.  To be kept up to date with information sign up on our website and put the following dates in your diary: 14th to 29th September 2013.