THE Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues Festival will go ahead this year - as an online event.

All three days of the festival will be streamed for free over the May Day Bank Holiday featuring some of the biggest names on the British jazz and blues scene.

Singer song-writer Kyla Brox will provide the vintage fizz when she headlines this year’s three-day jamboree on Bank Holiday Sunday.

Organisers, who have attracted acts from all over the world to Clitheroe in the last decade, were forced to cancel last year’s festival due to the Coronavirus health emergency.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be back,” said festival treasurer Miles Peachey.

“It was devastating to have to postpone at the last minute in 2020, and we didn’t want to lose ten years of momentum by cancelling this year too.

“We were determined not to have the event postponed again and let our membership and loyal audiences forget who we are.

“We are going to have a great festival, put some money in the hard-hit musicians’ pockets and the superb acts will provide first class entertainment.

“We want to keep the spirit of the community festival alive - and now it is all systems go.”

Ribble Valley and Blues Festival co-ordinator Sue Bradley said: “It’s been a steep learning curve, and our confidence for this festival comes from the lessons and experience we’ve gained over the past year, keeping the music flowing through on-line gigs and working with musicians.

“Some musicians have embraced online performance, while others prefer to wait to play in front of a live audience.

“So, programming the festival has meant working to artists’ strengths and enabling them to get back to work as soon as possible, either through festival streaming or welcoming them back to live gigs later this year.”

Most importantly, she says the future of the Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues Festival is secure and that their hope is that the festival will return to a traditional format next year with live audiences.

“We already have our eyes on 2022 and artists are champing at the bit to be involved.” she said.

“For this year’s festival to be a real success we need you – the audience.

“Music doesn’t exist without the listener’s enjoyment – and this will be one of the first opportunities performers will have had for many months to share their talents and passion for creating jazz and blues for you.”

Organisers are hoping the on-line festival audience can donate to this year’s Festival Fundraiser: Fairplay to Musicians as they bid to raise £2,000.

“We want to give something back to our jazz and blues community and enable families and friends to re-connect through music.

“We also hope our audience will value the music and the brilliant artists to make a donation to support the festival and keep jazz and blues music alive into the future beyond these difficult times.”

Other acts who will be performing from April 30 to May 2 include Beyond Albedo, the John Pope Quintet, the Nicola Farnon Trio and Neutrino. For the full festival line-up visit www.rvjazzfestival.co.uk

Festival organisers wish to acknowledge help from sponsors: Ribble Valley Borough Council, Greenacre Honda, Arts Council of England, Arts Council of England and Clitheroe Town Council.