THIS year’s Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne will host the 2013 British Blues Awards.

In a first for the festival, held over the August Bank Holiday Weekend, the winners of 15 different categories in Britain’s biggest set of blues awards will be announced live from the stage of Colne Muni.

The festival itself is a previous award winner, winning the best festival award in 2011 and being highly commended last year.

Festival organiser Alison Goode said: “We are proud to be hosting the British Blues Awards which will hopefully bring more — and new — people to the festival.”

Among the categories to be announced on the Sunday afternoon will be the coveted titles of best male and female vocalist and best British blues band.

The festival will also see two legendary names of the British rock and blues scene are coming to Colne.

Rolling Stone legend Bill Wyman and his Rhythm Kings have been announced as the headliners and joining them will be former Cream drummer Ginger Baker and his band.

Others revealed on the line-up are blues award nominees Joe Louis Walker, Chris Farlowe, Nine Below Zero and Paul Lamb and the King Snakes.

Colne Muni will once again host the international stage but there will also be the British and acoustic stages plus official Roadhouse venues spread around the town centre.

More than 600 artists will be performing at the nine official festival venues, including the the various Roadhouse stages around the town centre.

Alison Goode added: “Every year we try to cater for all musical tastes and, again, we are really excited by the line-up we have already secured.”

For more details and ticket information visit the festival website www. bluesfestival. co.uk which will be launched on Monday.