IT has established itself as probably the best R and B night in Lancashire.

Certainly among urban music fans, the best Friday out is at Bootylicious, in Preston, doing for black-orientated music in the county what Feel did for the House scene in Lancashire all those years ago.

But while its reputation is already second to none, the club night is set to rise to another level tonight when it welcomes a certain well-known artist by the name of Ms Dynamite!

Fresh from nabbing three Mobos on Tuesday night, the young Londoner is one of a number of artists taking part in the Blues and Soul Urban 2002 Tour, which you can catch tonight at the University of Central Lancashire Students' Union.

Along with Naomi McLean-Daley -- Ms Dynamite's not-so bling bling real name -- are a whole host of other big names.

Bigger Beats, The Reelists, 3rd Edge, Boniface, Nicole Russo and Tubby T all feature on the bill.

And then there's Artful Dodger and DJ Ride who are acting as the residents on the tour.

Special guest DJs include Major D and Rampage, of urban music digital station BBC 1Xtra.

Bootylicious residents Early B and DJ Sim will also be in attendance.

Like Feel -- and there aren't really many parallels between the two -- Bootylicious runs during term time.

But normally, its events are member only.

So far, it has held three weekly events so far, all of which have been open to the general public so long as people join up.

From next Friday, however, things go back to members only, although memberships will be available.

Tonight's event is one of their Bootylicious Gold event, which means it is slightly more expensive.

These also tend to be open to the public.

It does, however, start at 9pm with the first act live on stage at 10pm.

Tickets are £10 for people with the NUS card, £14 for those who haven't.

Normally, tickets are £3 for NUS and £5 for others.

Bootylicious boasts to be The Home of R'n'B and with a reputation which is enabling it to attract the likes of Trevor Nelson -- he performed last year -- they are probably right.

For more information, ring 01772 894861.

PRESTON is pretty much the centre of Lancashire's R'n'B scene, with a number of choice bars worth checking out.

Brown's, in Glovers Court, is a tiled bar which has an emphasis on good DJs behind the decks and a good, party-like atmosphere.

Anderson's, also in Glovers Court, is run by well-known R'n'B DJ LJ and attracts the cool crowd with music which is on a similar level.