THERE will be an emotionally-charged atmosphere at the British Stage at the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival on Sunday night when some of the UK’s leading blues musicians pay a personal tribute to Cliff Stocker, frontman of the band Slack Alice who died earlier this year.

Connie Lush, who has received two nominations at this year’s British Blues Awards, will perform three songs with Slack Alice before her own set which rounds off the night at the Pendle Hippodrome.

“It’s always tough when you lose a special friend like Cliff,” she said. “Very often musicians can be a little bit selfish but Cliff was not like that. He knew everybody and he was exceptional in the way he encouraged people.

“I’ll just miss his big personality especially back stage. He was always there for a good old chunner.”

Connie prepared up for this weekend’s show by playing a warm-up gig in Clitheroe last weekend with Slack Alice when she was joined by fellow British Blues Award nominee Rebecca Downes.

“We just had an amazing time,” she said. “There were lots of tears because we were singing songs that Cliff had written and which his family and friends had heard for years so it was very emotional but it was fabulous at the same time, Cliff would have loved it.

“I’m just so glad we had that rehearsal. I wasn’t sure how I’d get one or whether I’d even remember the words but once you sing it on stage in front of people that’s the worst over. Then you know that you can do it.”

Connie is no stranger to the Colne Festival which opens tomorrow. In fact she got her first big break there.

“At the time they held auditions to get new people involved so me and my guitarist stood in a queue waiting our turn and they just loved us,” she said.

“But you often get people saying ‘we think you’re great’ but you never hear from them again. and you just wait around and get nothing back. But following the audition the organisers got in touch and asked us to play the festival and that was really our first big break.”

Connie no longer has to audition to get invites to festivals - with her band she’s one of the most in-demand performers on the British blues scene. And with nominations for best female vocalist and album of the year, her stock has never been higher.

“When I heard I’d got two nominations I was a bit like ‘wow, what happened there?’

“Awards do mean something - it is nice to be recognised. I was particularly pleased to be nominated for Renaissance. When you put out a new album it’s quite a nerve-wracking experience as you really are putting yourself on the line.

“I knew some of it wasn’t as bluesy as normal but they were songs which I felt I had to write.

“I always say that you don’t expect an award for doing something that you love, that’s amazing on its own, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t pleased to be recognised. Now we’ll just wait and see what happens when the winners are announced next month.

“But before then it’s just nice to be back at Colne,

“I know it will be sad but Cliff would have loved it.”

Connie Lush plays the British Stage at Pendle Hippodrome on Sunday, August 28.