Listen Live
RAJF Photos
A nice message from Steve Harley
We got a nice message from Steve Harley this morning, following his performance at RAJF on Saturday.
“Thank you all for a really fabulous festival. The venue was a dream, the marquee and PA and lighting all top-notch and your “volunteers” splendidly kind.
The food was wonderful – please thank the ladies/gentlemen in the kitchen.
I realise you can’t have the same acts back without a time-lapse of several years, but I would return to your brilliant event anytime.
Many thanks again.
Steve Harley”
Thanks Steve – it was great to have you and the band too.
Posted on July 4, 2011 in festival news music
RAJF Battle of the Bands 2011
Calling all bands – Your local Radio station (and RAJF) needs you!!!!
The Spirit FM Battle of the Bands in conjunction with Chichester Real Ale and Jazz Festival is back.
The prize is a pretty good one:
Supporting Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel at The Chichester Real Ale and Jazz Festival this July.
Plus a chance to record and mix of one song at Ford Lane Recording Studio (worth up to £400 one day recording, one day mixing).
To enter, all you need to do is email milly.luxford@spiritfm.net with a brief biog about your band and a link to your myspace/facebook /soundcloud/website.
The live final is taking place at The Vestry in Chichester on Friday 10th June
Posted on June 7, 2011 in festival news music
Alvin Stardust talking on Spirit FM
You may have noticed that begloved 70s singing star Alvin Stardust has been added to the RAJF bill this year.
Alvin is supporting Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel on Saturday 2nd of July.
That day is special in another way too because South-West Sussex radio station and RAJF sponsor Spirit FM are holding their 15th Birthday Party at Chichester RAJF that evening.
Alvin popped in to Spirit FM this morning to chat about music, play some live songs and his forthcoming appearance at our festival.
You can hear what he had to say by listening to a recording of the interview. Part 1 Part 2 Part 3
The files are quite big mp3 format and should load in your browser.
Posted on May 17, 2011 in festival news music
2011 band news imminent
We’re going to be announcing the band line up for RAJF 2011 on Wednesday 20th April.
The announcement will be made by Spirit FM and here on the RAJF website.
We’re very excited about the music we’ve got lined up for this year’s Festival and hope you will be too.
Posted on April 15, 2011 in festival news music
Katie Melua interview
Ahead of Katie Melua’s headlining performance at Chichester RAJF 2010, Phil Hewitt of the Chichester Observer has interviewed Katie.
Phil found Katie to be “one of the most delightful interviewees you could ever wish to speak to” and he talked with her about her new album The House.
You can see the interview here
Katie Melua plays Chichester RAJF this Friday 9th July.
Posted on July 6, 2010 in chichester events festival news music
Denys Baptiste at Chichester RAJF
We’re pleased to announce that tenor and soprano saxophonist Denys Baptiste will be making a guest appearance on Sunday 10th July at our Festival.
Denys is a former MOBO winner – Best Jazz Act – and he’ll be helping add to the jazz flavour of our Saturday afternoon session on the 10th.
Posted on July 1, 2010 in festival news music
Battle of the Bands news
The RAJF battle of the Bands is well underway.
We’ve already had one heat – held last Friday.
Our roving reporter and member of the judging panel Whispering Kev White sends this report:
“A big early crowd saw the young band the Watermelons start the evening , with some great pop songs , good lyrics, and a lead singer with a distinctive voice, clearly a big future in front of this band !!!
Second up were Ribbon , just keyboards and drums !! But they what a fantastic performance, superb voice , captivating !!!!!
After a beer and P!!!! Jump the Gun played their set , good solid covers ,with some fine guitar from the Galloway brothers, Sam and Pete, Sam of Nimrods Son Fame !!
Last were the Mulatones , Lots of Styles and influences , two fab female vocalist, after a slow start they produced a stonking set !!
It was very difficult with regards the the winner of the first heat but using the set criteria…
- Originality
- Interface with the audience
- Quality of performance, and
- Presentation.
..the judges decided on Ribbon as the winners giving them chance to play in the final , and the opportunity to support The Orchestra at this year’s RAJF.
The heats are being hosted in the Vestry in South Street, Chichester. Thanks to them and to the other judges Milly Luxford of Spirit FM and Lewis Harding of Hakuna Pesa , The Wha Whas and Turnaround fame.
Plus M. le President – Stuart Pembery – as Makeshift MC did a fine job. Catchphrase. “Vote for me – now let’s rock”
The next 2 heats are in the Vestry too and the line-ups are:
Friday 11th June
Naked
The Feel
The Doppler Shift
King & I
Sunday 13th June
Soul Intentions
Iccas Belle
The Strutt
The Fug Band ”
Posted on June 9, 2010 in chichester events festival news music
Harp music concert in the Guildhall
Real Ale and Jazz isn’t the only musical event in Priory Park this summer.
The Guildhall is a beautiful building – made all the more valuable to us organisers of RAJF because it has mains electricity.
On Saturday 10th July the nice folks at the District Museum have organised a lunchtime concert in the Guildhall with harpist Fran Barsby.
The concert aims to celebrate the beauty of the harp playing music through the ages, from folk to contempory.
The concert runs from 12.00am – 1.30pm.
Tickets cost £6 (£5 Concessions)
Why not listen to the harp music in the Guildhall at lunchtime and come along to hear some Jazz at the festival in the afternoon – there will be plenty of food on hand, so you needn’t miss out on lunch.
Tickets for the harp concert are available from Chichester District Museum in Little London (tel 01243 784683) and the Chichester Festivities Box Office.
Tickets for the jazz are available on this website.
Posted on May 19, 2010 in chichester events music
Katie Melua to headline this year’s festival
This morning we’ve announced (with the help of Spirit FM) the line-up for this year’s RAJF.
And we’re really excited to have an artist as well-known as Katie Melua headlining this year’s event – especially as Katie has a new album out next month which, by all accounts, is going to be something pretty special.
Katie’s been working with uber-cool producer William Orbit – who told the Times last week that Katie “can take her voice places I’ve never heard anyone else go”.
I don’t think he meant Chichester.
It’s our 30th birthday this year and we’re celebrating that on the last night of the Festival with The Orchestra – made up of former members of ELO and ELO II. You can find out more about their history here.
Stuart pointed out that 30 summers ago, when the first RAJF took place, ELO were number 1 in the UK singles chart (Xanadu – in case you’re wondering), so there’s something appropriate about marking our big 3 – 0 with some of the stars of 1980.
We’re pretty pleased with the rest of our line up too – but more of that later.
Posted on April 22, 2010 in festival news music
Music news expected in April
Things are progressing well with booking the bands for RAJF 2010.
We reckon that the i’s will be dotted and the t’s crossed in the middle of April, so look out for band announcements round about then.
Fingers crossed, it looks like we’re going to have some really exciting music to tell you about then.
If you would like us to let you kow, please sign up for email alerts or follow us on twitter or join our facebook group.
Posted on March 22, 2010 in festival news music
Social Media