DARWEN'S annual music festival is expected to be bigger and better this year with thousands of people expected to flock to seven venues.

Last year's event attracted more than 25,000 people with headliners Bad Manners.

Organisers, Darwen Music Project, hope this year's main act The Buzzcocks will draw in the crowds.

Seventy bands and acts will perform over tomorrow and Bank Holiday Monday at the event funded by Blackburn with Darwen Council and the Arts Council England.

The will be on the Benedictine Stage on Darwen bus station, as well as the Heritage Acoustic Stage at the Darwen Library Theatre -- a new venue for last year's festival, the Crown Hotel, the Kenley Stage at the Millstone pub, the Russkell World Stage in the Tower Room and the Cue Music Stage at Marigolds.

Local young bands, including four teenage boys known as Denied, from Darwen Moorland High School, will showcase their music at Marigolds on Sunday afternoon.

Popular local band Gone Beggin will take the main stage on Monday at 5.45pm while Darwen singer Natasha Lea Jones -- formerly of duo Pooka -- will perform at the Library Theatre at 2.15pm on Sunday.

There will also be workshops by some of the bands on both Sunday and Monday at The Tower Room, in Darwen Leisure Centre.

Workshops from Lava and Angel Brothers will start at 2pm on Sunday followed by their live sets at 8.30pm and 11pm.

On Monday there will be workshops by Elite Music at 1.30pm and Sister Slap at 3.30pm.