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Katie Melua headlines Chichester RAJF 2010. Katie Melua is the biggest selling female artist in Europe and releases her new album The House on May 24th. Her first three albums have all been platinum sellers (9 million and counting) and Katie’s new work is already attracting a lot of interest. Outstanding singer Sarah Saville will also be playing on Friday 9th.
The Orchestra (former members of ELO and ELO II) headline the final night of the Festival. We’re calling this our 30th Birthday Party as this year is indeed the 30th year we have held our Festival and the Orchestra should be a fitting way to mark the occasion.
Our first weekend features two great party nights featuring top quality tribute bands and the great RAJF atmosphere.
Motown Party Night showcases the legendary music of Detroit, with all the best loved Motown hits and a fine stage show. Plus the excellent Lee ‘Memphis’ King – officially the best Elvis impersonator in the world – will entertain us royally in the style of the King himself. And Chichester band Dynamo 5 will will get the party started.
Summer Beach Party features the best California has to offer with Beach Boys Smile giving us a flavour of sixties surf and the Alter Eagles rockin’ out LA style.
Our Saturday afternoon sessions are a chance to chill out in the Park and enjoy a quiet beer or two. These sessions are family-friendly events where children can accompany adults for free.
Oom-Pah Session. Following last year’s hilarious Bavarian Beerfest we’re keen for more of the same from the Kaisers of the Valleys Die Heidelberger Boys. Lederhosen and laughter, with local band Turnaround also on hand again to restore order amongst the Bavarian barminess.
Jazz Session. The Southampton Youth Jazz Orchestra will entertain you while you enjoy a summer’s afternoon beer festival. Turnaround will be playing their brand of cool jazz too.
About the music at RAJF
In recent years we have had many great acts appear at our music festival.
These include the Human League, Squeeze, Blondie, Simple Minds, the Pretenders, Status Quo, M People, 10CC, Bad Manners, ABC, Robert Cray and the late, great Mr James Brown.
As well as great stars like these, our party nights are also very popular. We often have top quality tribute bands carefully selected by us with one thing in mind – for you to have a really great night out.
So is it a Jazz festival?
Not any more.
When we started out in 1980 jazz was the cornerstone of the musical menu at RAJF.
As time passed, we noticed that more of our audience seemed to be interested in blues, rock, pop and other forms of music, so we adapted our choice of bands.
Since then we’ve had some memorable nights with epic performances from some of the biggest music acts ever to appear in West Sussex – let alone our hometown of Chichester.
What is there for jazz lovers, then?
On the Saturday afternoons of the festival we offer the very successful Jazz in the Park concerts.
These jazz concerts are on a much smaller scale than the main festival and they are a return to the earlier days of Real Ale and Jazz, where you could enjoy a great pint of real ale while listening to jazz and swing of all types.
Our Saturday afternoon jazz concerts are a great family afternoon out too, with free entry for children who accompany their parents.
It’s a perfect way to spend a summer’s afternoon in Chichester.
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