The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival will be back ‘bigger and better’ with local businesses set to get involved in the popular bank holiday event.

After two years away, the popular festival is making its return to Colne in style this summer with a rock, roots and folk twist, plus a sensational line-up of artists including farewell tours for some of the Blues industries' most acclaimed singers and bands.

Taking place over the August bank holiday weekend in Colne over 50 artists will perform over the three-day festival at The Colne Muni, Mini Muni and Pendle Hippodrome.

Chair of Colne Town Council, Cllr Mary Thomas said that the town is ready to see the return of the festival.

She said: "It's very important for the council and for our local businesses that the Rhythm & Blues Festival is back on.

"We haven't been able to hold it for two years due to COVID-19, so it's going to be bigger and better in 2022.

"This festival is unique. Colne is a small mill town in East Lancashire, but it is absolutely banging on August Bank Holiday weekend and the line-up which we have got this year is absolutely tremendous and we can't wait to welcome everybody to our town."

Multi-award winning Ian Siegal presents B.L.U.E.S. heads up a sensational line-up, which also includes Blues' Godfather Geno Washington, who is embarking on his farewell tour after seven decades in the business; one of the UK's if not the world's hottest contemporary blues guitarists Aynsley Lister; legendary 70s folk-rock pioneers Lindisfarne; UK rock band FM who have toured the world with the likes of Status Quo, Bon Jovi, Tina Turner and Foreigner; as well as Nine Below Zero, highly regarded as "one of the best blues bands around today".

Head of development at main sponsors Barnfield Construction, Tracy Clavell-Bates, said: "We are extremely proud to be sponsors once again for the Great British R&B Festival, it's a great family event and we look forward to being here for the weekend."