THE organisers of the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival at Colne are hoping music lovers in East Lancashire will help them regain the title of Britain’s top blues festival.

The event, held over the August bank holiday, was voted Best British Blues Festival in 2011 and runner-up last year in the prestigious British Blues Awards.

And it has been nominated again by a panel of leading figures in the blues scene, promoters and music journalists. The final result is decided by public vote and the closing date is Sunday.

This year Colne will be hosting the British Blues Awards on Sunday, August 25, and Pendle Leisure Trust, who are behind the event, would be paticularly thrilled to receive the award on their own stage.

The other finalists are Blues on the Farm, Carlisle Blues and Rock Festival, Maryport Blues Festival, Newark Blues Festival and Hebden Bridge Blues Festival.

The 2013 festival runs from Friday, August 23 to Monday, August 26 and the line-up includes Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings, Ginger Baker, Charlie Musselwhite and Wilko Johnson. Burnley singer songwriter Luzy Zirins has also been nominated in three categories.

To cast your vote, log on to www.britishbluesawards.com