FOR many blues lovers one of the many highlights of this year’s Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival will come on the Saturday night on the British stage when Kyla Brox will be performing a full set alongside her dad, legendary bluesman Victor Brox.

And it won’t just be a special treat for those lucky enough to get in to see it.

“It will be a special evening for us too,” said Kyla. “It’s so rare that we do a whole show together these days.

“I first sang with my dad when I was about 12 and I’d get up on stage to sing with his band.

“But when I was around 20 and got my own band together that was really it.

“We have occasionally done the odd song or two but not a whole show – I think we’re both really looking forward to it.”

You can tell that Colne is something special – they have even been rehearsing for their set together.

“Oh, my dad never rehearses,” laughed Kyle. “But we have already got together to work on a song which we have never done together before and we’re lining up a couple more rehearslas before the show for one or two more surprise numbers. This set will be extremely well panned which is unlike both of us.”

Blues fans have Kyla’s husband Danny who plays bass in her band to thanks for this special collaboration.

“When Alison Goode, the festival organiser, rang to ask if we’d like to play the festival Danny suggested that we should do a full show with my dad,” said Kyla.

“It’s very fitting because last year he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Blues Awards which were held in Colne and this year he’s playing live.”

The Colne festival is a special event for Kyla.

“Colne has been great for me,” she said. “It was the festival which really launched my career. When I was trying to get out of the shadow of being Victor Brox’s daughter it was my first real festival and I’ve loved coming back ever since.

“I think the name of the festival says it all – it is THE festival in the UK for blues fans – and it always has such great artists on. Wherever I go doing gigs around the world it is very rare for people not to be aware of Colne which is a phenomenal achievement.”

Kyla’s Saturday night slot on the British stage is part of a busy day. Earlier she and Danny will taking to the acoustic stage.

“I love the fact that we will then be on the British stage,” she said. “Because you don’t have to pay a lot to get in, you just need a Pledge Badge, it attracts a really diverse audience and I love that.

“I always try and see as much as I can when I’m in Colne and we only live down the road in Mosley so if we’re not working I’ll certainly be trying to come along to other days of the festival.”