World class musicians perform headline concerts over three days this bank holiday weekend. The Rye International Jazz and Blues Festival, now in its eighth year, which will be held from Saturday, August 24 to Bank Holiday Monday, August 26, will have a dedicated outdoor stage. Singer

The UK Queen of Soul Beverley Knight performs an evening concert at St Mary's Church on the Saturday with her eight piece band.

Beverley celebrates 25 years as a performing and recording artist, having collaborated on stage and on record with the likes of Prince, Jamiroquai, Bryan Adams, Ronnie Wood, Carlos Santana, Jools Holland, Take That and Chaka Kahn.

Rumer has travelled from America to perform a UK exclusive afternoon concert. The singer, who has been called “heir to Dusty Springfield and Karen Carpenter”, will open the festival on the Saturday.

On Sunday, New Orleans Blues legend Jon Cleary performs an afternoon show, 35 years after arriving in New Orleans.

The Sunday evening sees American blues icon Lucky Peterson perform with his sensational all–star band. Lucky recently performed four sell-out shows at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London.

Guitar legend and virtuoso Richard Thompson stages a special solo concert on the evening of Sunday, August 26, while on the Bank Holiday Monday, the James Taylor Quartet - led by Rochester-based musician James Taylor - perform.

Book tickets at ryejazz.com