AND we're off!

Four nights and three days of blues in every guise got underway with a packed out Colne Muni hosting the International Stage.

There was an expectant buzz around this proud old venue from the outset.

For some bands, being first up of the entire festival may have proved a little daunting but Nine Below Zero are too experienced and just too good to let a minor matter like that affect them.

With guitarist and vocalist Dennis Greaves sparking off his harmonica-playing buddy Mark Feltham, the South Londoners were the perfect way to start the night - full of verve, brio and a nice line in chat.

You can see why the band have become an almost permanent fixture on opening night - their hard driving rhythm and blues had a capacity crowd engrossed, Greaves firing off riffs for all his worth and Feltham again demonstrating why he is one of the most in-demand harp players in the country.

And yes, they played Eleven Plus Eleven as featured on The Young Ones for those old enough to remember.

Later this year the band will tour with an added brass section. That will be something to behold because as a foursome they were bang on.

Then, for many in the audience, came the highlight of the entire festival - a rare outing by Dave Edmunds.

The purists may argue that his set wasn't traditional blues, but who cares? For over 40 years Edmunds has been performing his own brand of rock and roll - and long may it continue.

As a frontman, Edmunds just lets his guitar and the songs do the talking and he and his Scandinavian band rattled through many of the hits including From Small Things (Big Things Gonna Come) and an encore of Love Sculpture's Sabre Dance.

Some of the big hits were notable for their absence but no-one in the Muni seemed to mind as he powered through the set.

To round off the evening Bernie Marsden cranked up the volume for a great set which showed his love for blues in all forms.

His famous Gibson guitar. The Beast, was left at home but Marsden still had plenty of axe to wield. Whitesnake numbers including Fool For Your Loving, Ain't No Loving in the Heart of the City and Here I Go Again were genuine crowd pleasers and, interestingly, shorn of David Coverdale's powerhouse vocals revealed their blues heritage.

Peter Green and Gary Moore were both celebrated in the set by the genial Marsden who makes playing the guitar look far too easy.

He and his band were fine companions into the wee small hours - and we've still got three more days to go!