THE sounds of the Windy City whipped into town and blew away fans of the blues.

The 15th Burnley National Blues Festival turned a new page on Saturday by linking up with the Chicago Blues Festival to present Delmark blues legends Willie Kent, Bonnie Lee and Eddie Clearwater.

A packed Mechanics Theatre was soon under the spell of a Blues institution -- leather-hatted and leather-voiced bassman Willie Kent and The Gents.

When he was joined by molasses-voiced Bonnie Lee, she lost no time in rolling back the years with a power and strength that belied her frail appearance.

Eddie 'The Chief' Clearwater's arrival was amid gasps at the spectacle of the six foot five inch technicolour cowboy. A show-stealing guitar performance proved Eddie is the real deal and his finale of Sweet Home Chicago left everyone with dreams of just that.

And while the Chicago veterans were a fantastic ending on Saturday's main stage, it was The Yellow and Blues Band which set the Blues bandwagon rolling. The band members were maybe just 12 and 13 -- less than half the age of Willie's bass -- but they were not overawed to be sharing the bill with international stars and soul vocals and versatile musicianship had followers whooping with delight.

Later pianist Bob Hall gave a flawless display of fast fingered boogie woogie.

Either side of the interval, blues harp fans were treated to high energy masterclasses by Honeyboy Hickling and later Doug Jay.

By midnight a ten-hour drenching of blues, washed down with a few beers, was taking its toll on bluesters, but the party was far from over. Adjourning to the new Late Night Blues Shack, Maria Vincent and The Millionaires were the perfect adrenaline shot as partygoers put on their boogie shoes for a classy jump and jive

DAVID HAYNES