Festival preview: Blues Day in Burnley (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Festival preview: Blues Day in Burnley

4:00pm Wednesday 3rd March 2010

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THE line-up for Burnley Blues Day in April has been announced, with some of the leading names in British blues taking to the stage.

The one-day event, on Saturday, April 3, replaces the traditional weekend festival, which was hit by a lack of sponsorship.

Headliners for the one-day gathering at Burnley Mechanics, include the Mike Sanchez Band and The Stumble, both main stage acts in 2008.

Another blues festival legend, Paul Jones, will appear with Blues Band partner Dave Kelly, and the James Hunter Band rounds off the main stage bill.

And the second stage, being hosted in the Press Room, Manchester Road, will feature returning 2009 attractions Chantel McGregor and The Back Porch Band, alongside The Blues Devils and Gary Harper Band.

In addition, fringe venues through the town will be offering live music across the Easter weekend.

Supporters of the popular fringe festival, led by White Hart landlord Ken Southern, have pledged to ensure that the blues spectacular has an extended presence, after the success of the 2009 festival.

Landlords reported that, despite the expected effect of the credit crunch on punters, the 2009 get-together had proved to be a renaissance for the blues festival, which has attracted the cream of American and UK blues talent since its inception.

A Burnley Blues Festival spokesman confirmed that arrangements were still in place for the fringe, which includes venues such as the White Hart, Bridge Inn, Coach and Horses, Inn on the Wharf and The Talbot, were still in place.

He said: “Although the festival main stage will be for one day only, all official fringe venues will continue to run from Friday April 2 to Sunday April 4, as previous years.

“A full list of artists and brochure will be available shortly.”

Following the end of a three-year sponsorship deal with Burnley-based aerospace giants Aircelle, council officials were unable to secure a big-name backer, in the current economic climate.

The annual Colne Rhythm and Blues Festival, which has been the subject of threatened funding cuts twice before, is expected to go ahead as normal over the August bank holiday weekend.

Main stage

Mike Sanchez Band with special guests Big Boy Bloater, Andy Silvester and Claire Johnson
James Hunter Band
Paul Jones and Dave Kelly
The Stumble.

Festival stage

Chantel McGregor
Blues Devils
Back Porch Band
Gary Harper Band
Jon Walsh Blues Band, A full fringe festival will be held at venues around Burnley from Friday, April 2 to Monday, April 5.

Main stage tickets are priced £15. For more details, contact the box offiice on 01282 664400.

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