The third Festival on the Hill from St Edmund’s School Canterbury, sponsored by Paul Roberts Associates, promises a week of rich, diverse entertainment from 26 June to 2 July.

Following sell-out dates at New York’s iconic Birdland and London’s Ronnie Scott’s, Curtis Stigers will bring his show of old-school pop with swinging jazz to Canterbury for the opening night on 26 June, courtesy of Burgess Hodgson.

This American legendary multi-platinum selling vocalist/musician has had Top Ten hits in both the USA and UK. He came to prominence in the early 1990s with his singles “I Wonder Why” and “You’re All That Matters To Me”.  His 23-year recording career continues as he plays to audiences around the world.

On Friday 28^th June,  A Soulful Celebration, sponsored by Hearbase, brings leading saxophonist Derek Nash and vocalist Louise Clare Marshall, both successful solo artists and members of the Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Band, with the incredible vocals of Noel McCalla for an evening of music from the soul greats such as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.

Open Water will perform in the Festival Marquee on Saturday 29^th June; featuring Richard Rozze (acoustic guitars/ dobro/ mandolin/ vocals) and award winning vocalist Joanne Doolan with the fabulous Jeff Alexander on guitar, banjo and vocals and Alex Keen on double bass.

Sunday 30^th June – the St Edmund’s theatre is the venue for an afternoon with Harry the Piano when “the best damn pianist in the civilised wold” will entertain with any tune, any style at the drop of a hat.

There is something for everyone with The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Passion with the Tippett Quartet, Art Workshop with Paul Gadenne, Abba-Dabba-Doo, Sunday Morning Salsa, drama cookery demo and much more!

Award-winning saxophonist and composer, John Harle,  is the festival patron and he told us “The cultural profile of St Edmunds Festival speaks from its very core as a programme of events bound up with the modern world, enriching the lives of students (and their families) with an exciting and challenging programme of music that reflects the vision of its organisers and of the students themselves.”

Tickets are on sale now from www.ticketsource.co.uk

For full festival details go to www.stedmundsfestival.org.uk