Angela turns up the heat and gets 'em cookin' CHICAGO blues diva Angela Brown made a triumphant return to Burnley Mechanics.

After an absence of three years, backed by the excellent Mighty 45s, she moved the 12th Burnley National Blues Festival into overdrive as she burst on to the main stage -- big, bold and beautiful. Her raunchy rapport with the audience created an atmosphere in which it was difficult to see who was having most fun.

From the sassy upbeat numbers to the slow soulful ballads, she had all the right ingredients.

Somebody's Been Cookin', with its laid-back jazz grooves, enhanced by fine saxophone work from James Evans, was typical of the light and shade.

When she closed with American Trilogy, the crowd were willing her to go marching on all night, but had to be satisfied with one encore. Former 60s Brit popster and Blues Band frontman Paul Jones was gracious in his appreciation of Miss Brown, as his band performed with an enthusiasm that would put their juniors to shame.

After a brief technical hitch with the harmonica mike, they really let the good times roll. Dave Kelly's fretwork fired up the blues traditionalists, and when the solo spotlight fell on guest keyboard player Bob Hall all eyes were fixed on his fast-fingered boogie woogie. Brought back on stage by an audience demanding more, they fittingly chose to bring the night to a close with the moving People Get Ready, a poignant tribute to the late Curtis Mayfield. He would have been proud.

Washington-born Michael Roach opened the night with his interpretation of 20s East Coast blues. He cut a lonely figure centre stage, but was far from alone.

As the man said, his fingers are his band. His guitar sang some sorrowful songs, but there was humour too.

He had some short, but very tall stories, to tell and was the first to laugh when he fluffed his lyrics.

The festival closes tonight with Byron Burns and Eddie Martin in concert at the Mechanics, Uptown Band at the Inn On The Wharf and The Bill Baileys at The Talbot Hotel, Church Street.