A series of special pre-Christmas concerts will bring huge names from the world of rock and pop to Rye.

The Rye International Jazz & Blues Festival will stage the concerts, featuring some world class acts, at St Mary’s Church in Rye in December.

Keyboard pioneer and prog rocker Rick Wakeman of YES, who has produced more than 100 solo albums and sold 50m around the world, stages An Audience With on Thursday, December 8.

A music maestro who has been in the business more than 50 years, comes to Rye following a sell-out American tour.

On Friday, December 9, The Spirit of Christmas features the London Community Choir and special guest, the UK Queen of Soul, Mica Paris.

Mica played a sell-out concert at the festival in August and will return with the award-winning gospel choir.

On Wednesday, December 14, a Christmas jazz special will feature Ian Shaw and Claire Martin.

The two award-winning jazz singers, who are also both celebrated radio broadcasters on BBC and Jazz FM will also bring some anecdotes to their music-making.

The evening will feature winter warmers and classic songs evoking 1930s New York, 1940s Christmas cinema evergreens to 50s Hollywood through to contemporary writers such as The Pogues and Nick Cave.

For tickets and more details visit ryejazz.com