PERFORMERS from all over the world will help paint the town blue later this week when when the 11th Burnley National Blues Festival begins.

The award-winning names set to play this year's Burnley National Blues Festival will include seasoned harmonica player James Cotton and young British swing band Big Town Playboys.

The four-day extravaganza begins on Friday and the main performances at Burnley Mechanics will be supplemented by a whole host of fringe events around town.

A blues art exhibition, a film festival, an acoustic stage and even a floating blues boat are all planned. The festival, in its 11th year, has grown to become one of the hottest dates in the British blues calendar and this year's promises a return to the real roots of the genre. Grammy Award-winning Mississippi harmonica player James Cotton is set to play on the Sunday night. Cotton has played alongside the greats, including Muddy Waters, and has opened for acts including the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin.

One of the young guns set to appear is Canadian harp player Jordan Patterson, whose electric funk sounds will surely be one of the highlights on the Friday. That night will also see Johnnie Bassett and the Blues Insurgents and Sonny Black And The Dukes take to the stage.

The Aynsley Lister Band, Bernard Allison, Mick Martin and the Blues Rockers and Reconsider are set to play next Saturday.

Sunday night acts will include guitar man and vocalist Chick Willis - who has played alongside Jackie Wilson, Ray Charles and Sam Cooke - and slide guitarist Alamo Leal.

Monday night will see a performance from the award-winning swing rhythm and blues act Big Town Playboys. Also set to play on the final night are The Groove Doctors and Deacon Jones and the Sinners.

Don't forget to read your Lancashire Evening Telegraph over the coming days for full details, pictures and reviews.

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