PROMOTERS of Burnley's world-famous blues festival have unveiled the line-up for next year's 20th anniversary event.

The 2008 gathering at Burnley Mechanics, which is expected to attract blues aficionados from across the globe, will be the first to take place under new sponsors Aircelle, as part of a three-year deal by the aircraft engine manufacturing giant, which employs around 450 people locally.

Amid lingering doubts about the festival's future footing, the firm, which has a plant in Bancroft Road, stepped in last summer.

And the partnership will help to attract some top names.

Headling on the Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday main stage will be Californian quarter Little Charlie and the Night Cats, Texas veteran Little Willie Littlefield and the Duke Robillard Band, from Rhode Island, respectively.

The promoters are hoping to tempt Earl Thomas, whose band played to great acclaim at the Mechanics this year, to appear for the 20th anniversary special.

The Scandinavian stylings of Thorbjorn Risager, and his Danish band, offering New Orleans blues with a Copenhagen tint, and Netherlands blues collective The Backbones will add a continental flavour to the proceedings.

And one of the most popular attractions of the three-day spectacular will return as the blues cruise along the Leeds and Liverpool canal will sail once again.

Louise Irving, Aircelle's organisational development manager, said: "The company see this as a great opportunity to work with the local community and help to support the Burnley National Blues Festival vision.

"It also raises the awareness of who Aircelle are and what we do here in Burnley."

Kirk Worley, Burnley Mechanics manager, said: "It's a great piece of news for the festival.

"This gives us a tremendous chance to move the festival forward and we look forward to working with, and being associated with, such a high profile and respected international company."

The festival has also received a boost from the Home Office with the announcement earlier this year that the event's permit would be granted for free, saving on some of the festival's staging costs.

Organisers have been working closely with Arts and Business, the funding body which aims to bring industry backers and cultural enterprises together.

The festival also invigorates the town itself with fringe events at a variety of venues.

These include the Inn on the Wharf, The Sparrowhawk Hotel, The White Hart, Coach & Horses and Talbot Hotel on Church Street, and the Rose & Thistle, on Yorkshire Street, among the stop-offs.