An East Lancashire music festival has been named as a finalist in the 2023 UK Blues Awards.

Colne’s Great British R&B Festival is one of five festivals up for the ‘UK Blues based festival of the year' award, also including the Alfold Rock and Blues Festival, Carlisle Blues/Rock Festival, Old Bush Blues Festival and Upton Blues Festival.

Winners of the awards will be determined by a public vote, which runs from today (Saturday, February 4) to 11.59pm on Sunday, February 19.

Nathan Cutler, Colne Town Council's events officer, said: "We are absolutely over the moon to be a finalist for such a major award.

“Everyone worked incredibly hard last year to put on a festival to remember and this nomination is for everyone who made that event so special.

“Thank you to everyone who attended the event and also to all our fantastic acts, and we will really appreciate all your support in the vote."

Alongside ‘UK Blues based festival of the year' award, there are 11 other categories, with all the winners to be announced at an awards night on April 13 in London's Bush Hall.

More than 35,000 people flocked to Colne for the return of the festival in 2022, following a two year break, with record-breaking ticket sales and record-breaking camping sales recorded.

Organisers of the event, Colne Town Council, set out to deliver the biggest and best festival yet and they did not disappoint, with a sensational weekend packed full of live music with 50 artists performing across three venues, including some of the blues, rock, roots and folk industry’s most acclaimed singers.

Plans for the 2023 Great British R&B Festival are well under way, with Colne Town Council in association with the Colne Blues Society having announced the festival will return to Colne from Friday, August 25, to Sunday, August 27, with a brilliant range of live music across the town from the main stages to the Official Fringe Venues and everywhere in between.

Early bird tickets can be purchased by visiting the festival's website.

You can vote for The Great British R&B Festival here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/03O5SV/