Colne Rhythm and Blues Festival line-up announced

More than 800 artistes have been booked to perform across eight official venues at the four-day event, which starts on August 28.

Announcing this year's line-up, festival organisers described the mixture of globally renowned acts and new local talent as “exciting.”

Councillors in the town welcomed the event, saying it will provide an opportunity to “show off” the borough’s countryside and residents.

Some of the acts signed up to play even performed at the first ever festival in 1990.

They include Stan Webb’s Chicken Shack, King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys and Paul Lamb and the Kingsnakes.

New talent including the Mitch Laddie Trio, Chantelle McGregor, the Sean Webster Band and Tommy Allen’s Traffiker will also be performing.

This year will also see the addition of The Cream Instrumental Cable Stage where a number of top acts will play.

Sheffield’s Robin Hoare Band, Manchester’s Charlie White Project and Billy Martin Junior will take centre stage to perform sets on the acoustic stage at the Lesser Muni.

There will also be a funfair at Colne Leisure Centre as well as street performers and buskers in Albert Road. Festival organiser, Alison Goode, of Pendle Leisure Trust, said: “There are so many exciting aspects to this year’s 20th anniversary festival.

“There’s so many headline artistes returning to centre stage – a vibrant line-up of new talent and the addition of family street entertainment throughout the weekend to bring a true sense of community to the festival.”

A special ‘Friday night music train’ will be put on from Preston to make sure commuters get to the festival in time.

Coun Ann Kerrigan said: “I think it’s a wonderful festival and the atmosphere is always brilliant. It’s great to get so many people from outside the area in to see the beautiful scenery and meet the friendly people.”

For details on the full schedule, including travel information go to www.bluesfestival.co.uk.