Festival underwayafter great weekend

Free public events included a colourful Punch and Judy Show and a performance by the Rye Ukulele Experiment at Lion Street on Saturday.

The Festival continues this weekend and throughout next week and is packed with events to suit all tastes and interests.

On Thursday 26 Rye welcomes back Cathy Jordan who sang beautifully, played percussion and told a string of jokes and anecdotes with Dervish a couple of years ago. Previously billed to appear with The Unwanted, she will be part of a different trio, joining singer/guitarist Kris Dever and banjo/guitarist Eamonn Coyne, in an evening of peerless celtic music and fun at Rye Community Centre at 8pm.

There are free events too. On Sunday 22 at 4pm in The George Hotel bar when Garry and Edd Blakeley will be playing celtic music; and the following Sunday at 8pm at The Queen’s Head, Landgate, the ever popular Tener Duende will be the closing event of the Festival.

For classical music enthusiasts the second week’s programme includes a lunchtime concert on Friday 27 at 1pm in Rye Methodist Church. The young talents from the award-winning Jacquin Trio will be playing a programme including Mozart and Schumann.

And at 3pm on the same day, at Playden Church the flautist Stephen Preston will be presenting a little bit different - a fascinating talk and performance called The Bird Fancyer’s Delight, where he gives a brief history of bird song in music. Stephen is kindly donating the whole of his fee to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.

The Box Office is open for ticket sales between 9.30am and 1pm Monday to Saturday. Telephone 01797 224442 or go to www.ryeartsfestival.co.uk for more information.