PRIMAL Scream and friends packing out King George's Hall on a Saturday night.

Hometown heroes The Illicits getting a taste of the limelight ahead of their own December 21 bow there.

Local singer Cherry Valentine belting out the hits at The Grapes, while pianist extraordinaire Stephen Shaw tickles the ivories at Shh Bar on Northgate.

And all the while youth homeless charity Nightsafe looks set to reap a reward running into thousands of pounds.

Quite a Spezial night for Blackburn then, most would agree.

Or as Cllr Phil Riley, the borough's regeneration guru, believed, seeing packed pubs from the Drummers Arms to The Postal Order, it was "bloody brilliant".

Fresh from the visits of ace illusionist Dynamo and an unbilled Ian Brown, the KGH gathering was part of the British Textile Biennial, backed by exhibitors Adidas Spezial and partly organised by the sports giant's star designer, Darwen's own Gary Aspden.

Veteran frontman Bobby Gillespie and his band not might not have hit the stage until just shy of midnight.

But then the gig, also featuring original acid house DJ Graeme Park, was already evoking the spirit of Live The Dream, the (in)famous rave, which took place just over 30 years ago in Tockholes. So timings weren't really a factor.

Thundering through a greatest hits heavy selection, ahead of their Maximum Rock and Roll tour, Primal Scream showcased their stellar 35-year career to an ecstatic response.

Bobby was quick to give props to trainers king Gary afterwards for pulling together the spectacular "for a really great charity" - and quick to tear into Prime Minister Boris Johnson over the pressing need for such a homeless cause in the first place.

Unlike most gigs, after the strains of encore favourite Come Together had finished reverberating, most of the crowd didn't bolt for the exit after Bobby's stint but stayed put, awaiting the talents of DJ Park, who continued on until the early morning curfew.

Earlier one of the fiercest cheers had been reserved for Blackburn's The Illicits, who not only premiered their next single, FBI, but also got in a few plugs for their Christmas show for good measure.

The textile biennial, which will also host a series of discussions on the future of the textile industry, runs until November 3.