ASPIRING bands and musicians are being given the chance to perform at this year’s Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne.

The Jessica Foxley Unsigned stage is named after a talented singer and former Pendle Leisure Trust employee who died in a car crash aged just 21 in 2009.

Since then a host of bands and musicians have been given the opportunity to appear at the country’s leading R&B festival, over the August bank holiday weekend.

Festival organiser Alison Goode said: “Jessica was a young, up-and-coming, talented artist looking to carve out a musical career for herself and this is what we are aiming to do, to give other people just like her, a chance.

“We want to honour her talent and support other young people like her by giving them an opportunity to be heard and perform at such an established event.

“Over the last few years we have discovered some amazing talent and we are excited about what we might find this year to perform at the Blues Festival in August.”

Interested musicians have until Sunday, June 8 to appply online at www.bluesfestival. co.uk or via www.jessicafoxley .com.

A shortlist will be then invited to live auditions on June 22 at the Ace Centre in Nelson, where judges include singer Lucy Zirins, voted best newcomer at the British Blues Awards.