THE warm-up concert of the fifth annual Ribble Valley Jazz Festival almost fell short of a support act when the frontman of local jazz group The John Wickham Trio had to cancel due to injury the day before the event.

But the day was saved when brothers Joe and Sam Westwood, avid fans of headline act Get the Blessing, agreed at 10 o’clock that evening to take the stage at The Grand, Clitheroe and play the gig they had bought their tickets to see.

Joe said: “We’ve previously played free events, like the marquee at last year’s Jazz Festival, but this is the first time we’ve ever played to an audience that have actually paid for tickets.

“You learn more in one evening like this than from weeks of practice.”