MUSIC lovers and bank holiday revellers will be praying for some sunshine this weekend, with several big events planned around East Lancashire.

The Met Office has predicted rain showers, but organisers hope the promised ‘sunny spells’ will be enough to tempt people out of their homes.

The biggest event will be Darwen Live, with the latest incarnation of 1990s chart-toppers The Beautiful South — The South — playing the main stage on Sunday night.

The SoulTrain will headline on Monday evening, with another 17 pubs and venues also taking part in the free two-day festival.

Darwen Town Council chairman Coun Trevor Maxfield said: “I think it could be absolutely massive this year, and we’ve obviously got our fingers crossed with the weather.

“We normally get one good day and one bad day, so we’ve bought lots of disposable ponchos in case we do get rain.

“I just hope that some of the sun we’ve been having can hold until the weekend.”

Meanwhile, pop group Herman’s Hermits will appear at Sabden Live on Saturday as part of their 50th anniversary tour, with Essex rockers Eddie and the Hotrods playing on Sunday. The line-up for the two-day event also features tribute bands Noasis and Creedence Clearwater Revived, featuring guitarist Jerry Donahue.

Thousands are also expected to flock to the Great Harwood Show on Monday, with plenty of livestock and attractions packed into the 44-acre New Showfield in Harwood Lane.

Meanwhile, dozens of vintage cars and steam engines will roll into Green Lane showground for Chipping Steam Fair, while The East Lancashire Railway will celebrate war time glamour, style and community spirit with a 1940s weekend. Both events run from Saturday to Monday.

Elsewhere, the Bowmen of Pendle and Samlesbury have invited people of all ages to have a shot at archery at Nab’s Head Lane grounds in Samlesbury on Saturday, while Summerseat Family Festival, near Ramsbottom, will be held on Sunday.

In Burnley, the Friends of Ightenhill Park will stage their annual festival on Sunday and Coldwell Activity Centre will have a family fun day on Monday, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Care.