Organisers urge local people to back 'amazing' Colne R&B Festival

The festival is organised by the Colne Blues Society and a star-studded line-up has already been announced for this year's event.

Popular local talent including Fandjango, J-Bear and the Giants, The Imperials will also perform.

The festival will feature 33 artists across two main stages, with full festival tickets priced at £100.

Festival coordinator at Colne Blues Society, Simon Shackleton, said: "Looking at some of the other UK festivals, they are all good value for money, but I think we are on a different scale really - 33 acts for £100, that's just £3 per band.

"We have a lot of local bands who deserve a showcase, they have grown up with this festival and they are superb artists in their own right, but we need local people to buy tickets and support this festival.

"We have put some of their favourite bands on and we urge them to come and see them on the main stage, it is great value."

Joss Owen, founder of Colne Blues Society and member of J-Bear and the Giants, added: "If we want this festival to be around for another 30 years, we need people to invest in it and our best investment as a festival is people buying tickets.

"It's great that people go round the pubs, go round the shops spending their hard earned money and we as a town benefit highly from that.

"If we want the festival to be the big spectacle that it has been, to be the crown jewel of blues festivals in the UK, then we need people to buy tickets.

"I am really looking forward to playing the festival with J-Bear and the Giants, but personally I can't wait to see the likes of Fandjango, who have been absolutely smashing it over the last few years and it is great to see them being recognised on the blues scene."

Alongside the two main venues, Colne Blues Society will also be programming the Official Fringe Festival which will see over 130 performances across 14 Official Fringe venues, which are free to attend.

Tickets can be purchased online by clicking here