A BAND which has already been big in Japan this year came back to Blighty to illuminate the Darwen Jazz and Blues Festival.

Shakatak also arrived at the Library Theatre after successful dates in Germany, Budapest, Slovakia and Watford.

The jazz funk mainstays behind such UK top 20 hits as Easier Said Than Done, Down On The Street and the Europe-wide favourite Nightbirds, kicked off things in grand style on Friday.

And the festival kept in the groove with Al Wood appearing with the Steve Childs Band on Saturday and Jamil Sheriff doing his thing at the Hopstar Brewery Tap yesterday.

The fifth annual gathering, brought together by Darwen Music Projects, was also supported by The Crown, The Hub, The Belgrave and The Black Horse.