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.

Prince William Laid Bare in Rye

The talk on Wednesday at Rye Arts Festival by Royal biographer Penny Junor on her new book on Prince William gave some insight into the 30-year-old helicopter pilot, his poorly-clad brother and their parents. We were assured that both princes really are well-rounded, normal lads, and that William, according to Royal insiders, really is the wild one - he just doesn't get caught (with his pants down, smoking weed, dressing in Nazi uniform or any other of Harry's other faux pas). And given their tragic childhood they've done remarkably well.

What we didn't find out, after audience questions, was what William calls the duchess of Cambridge in private - Kate or Catherine? An old sea dog asked why both princes carry the surname Wales. Penny wasn't sure. Given it isn't their father's surname, it is a bit odd. And neither has a title that might lead them to shorten their moniker to their demesne. Oh well.

The Partridge Family Meal

Great start to the Festival. On Saturday Plainsong played their penultimate gig after 40 years together - a great evening with people coming from as far as Coventry to see them.

Adam Nicolson gave a fascinating and funny talk on the English gentry - something he can speak authoritatively about as he is one of them! Top tip from his father on how to tell whether someone truly is a member of the gentry - it's knowing how to make one partridge feed six for supper! Not a challenge I've ever faced or likely to do so.

Hunky baritone Duncan Rock gave a sublime recital at St Anthony's RC Church, beautifully accompanied by Elizabeth Rossiter on piano. Only disappointment for some of the audience was that he kept his shirt on throughout!

To find out more about the feast of pleasures that are coming to the Rye Arts Festival, which runs right through to 30th September, click here or call the Box Office on 01797 224442 between 9.30am and 1.30pm.

And for tips on how to cook game (including Partridge) click on Fowl

Rye's Rock Concert on Monday

Duncan Rock in Billy Budd

Today, Duncan Rock is singing at the Coliseum on the opening night of The Magic Flute in the role of Papageno. Next Monday, 17th September, the young baritone is taking time out from the ENO to give a lunchtime recital at the Rye Arts Festival.

The concert, which will be held at St Anthony's RC church in Rye's Watchbell St at 1.00pm, will see Duncan accompanied on piano by Elizabeth Rossiter. A real treat is in store for the Rye audience in what will be first lunchtime concert at the Festival and the first time that the lovely church has been used as a venue in the 41 years history of Rye Arts Festival.

Rye Soprano Wins Golden Voice Competition in Poland

Last night soprano Natasha Day won first prize in the annual Zloty Glosy Competition in Warsaw. Natasha, who made her debut at the Rye Arts Festival last year in Gluck's Iphigenie en Tauride, is back again this year and be will be singing in Cosi Fan Tutti on Sunday 29th September at Rye College.

 Natasha will taking the role of Fiordiligi in Mozart's much loved opera - one of a pair of sisters whose 'lovers' attempt to dupe in order to prove/disprove their fidelity.