TOP blues bands from Britain and the United States wil be appearing on the various stages of this year’s four day festival of blues in Colne.

In fact this year is the Great British R&B Festival’s 21st birthday and organisers claim it will be one of the biggest and best line-ups they’ve ever had.

The streets of this small east Lancashire former cotton town will be alive to the sounds of the blues over the whole of the August Bank Holiday weekend.

With more than 600 artistes performing at eight official venues over four days, Colne’s annual Great British R&B Festival is believed to be the biggest of its kind in this country and the second biggest in Europe.

This year well-known names gracing the Municapal’s International Stage, include Peter Green, Georgie Fame, Chris Farlowe and Sandi Thom.

Flying in from the USA especially for the weekend will be Omar and The Howlers, Magic Slim and The Teardrops, the Popa Chubby Band and the Larry Garner Band.

Highlights on the British Stage will include Chantel McGregor, the Mitch Laddie Trio, the Frank White Band and Cliff Stocker’s legendary Slack Alice.

Radio Lancashire will be taking over and broadcasting live from Pendle Leisure Centre on the opening night – Friday, August 27.

And The Jessica Foxley Stage is being introduced to the British Stage for the first time this year.

There young, local musicians will be given a rare opportunity to perform in front of the hundreds of fans who make the pilgrimage to Colne each year to hear the blues.

A total of 21 musicians auditioned for one of the sought-after places and after much deliberation by the group of judges, the final eight were chosen.

The Revenues, The Quattro, Purple Buddha, Gravity, The Phil Bailey Band, The Bluestown Band, Jax Trio and Laura Bailey will take centre stage on the closing night of the festival – Monday, August 30.

A funfair at Colne Leisure Centre and street performers and buskers all along Albert Road will make sure everyone is thoroughly entertained throughout the four day event.

Festival organiser, Alison Goode, said: “The feedback we have had from fans so far has been fantastic, with comments such as: ‘awesome line-up’ and ‘I can’t believe some of the names you’ve got coming to Colne.’ “Almost 40 per cent of the tickets we have sold already have been bought by people who have never been to the festival before. So die-hard regulars had better get their tickets before it’s too late!

“Ticket sales are well up on previous years, making us quite confident this could be one of our best years yet.”

Log onto www.bluesfestival.co.uk for the full festival line-up.