Thousands from across the country headed to Colne for the 35th Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival.
The event brought world-class performances and unforgettable moments to what is always one of Lancashire’s premier festivals.
For five days, Colne became a town taken over by the blues, with packed venues, bustling streets, music around every corner.
From Thursday through to Monday, the festival’s main stages and 17 Official Fringe venues played host to a programme of live music, with visitors travelling from near and far to join the celebrations.
The Pendle Hippodrome welcomed Australian blues powerhouse Ray Beadle, acclaimed singer-songwriter and guitarist Dom Martin and legendary American blues-rock guitarist Walter Trout.
At The Muni Theatre, audiences were treated to three more headline shows from The Cinelli Brothers, Mike Sanchez and Lightnin' Willie & The Poorboys, while The Fort Vale Little Theatre provided the setting for headline performances from Kevin Brown, The Delta Aces and Sean Taylor Trio.
Festival Organiser Simon Shackleton said: “What an incredible festival.
“There are so many fantastic memories from this weekend and performances that I know people will be talking about for a long time.
“The standard of music was sensational, the tributes were incredibly special and the atmosphere across Colne was just amazing. To celebrate our 35th anniversary like this, surrounded by so many people who share our love of the blues, has been something we'll never forget.”
Events and Facilities Officer at Colne Town Council, Nathan Cutler said: “Seeing thousands of people visiting Colne across the weekend was fantastic.
“The town was absolutely buzzing, our pubs and venues were thriving and there was a brilliant atmosphere everywhere you went.
“Events of this size make such a difference to the town and its businesses, and it was wonderful to see visitors enjoying not only the festival but everything Colne has to offer.”
International artists were once again a huge part of the weekend, underlining the festival's reputation far beyond Lancashire.
Alongside Ray Beadle and Walter Trout, Colne welcomed Spain's Susan Santos and American artists including Paul Benjaman Band, The David Julia Band and Lightnin' Willie & The Poorboys, among many others.
Local talent included NHK Live, Ross Munro, Tadhg Bean-Bradley and J-Bear and The Giants all produced stand-out performances, with the weekend marking a 20th Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival appearance for J-Bear.
King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys were back, and their return carried extra significance during the festival's 35th anniversary year, having also performed at the very first Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival.
On Saturday night, The Fort Vale Little Theatre hosted a moving tribute to Rod Mayall, bringing together a collective of musicians from the Stockport and Manchester blues scene to celebrate his life and music.
Then, on Sunday night, the Pendle Hippodrome provided the setting for an emotional finale to the main festival programme with a heartfelt tribute to the legendary John Mayall.
Walter Trout, Sonny Flint's Beano Bluesbreakers and Kyla Brox took to the stage for a remarkable celebration of one of the most influential figures in British blues.
The night became even more special as Kyla welcomed Saturday night's Pendle Hippodrome headliner Ray Beadle to the stage.
Beyond the main stages, the festival atmosphere spread throughout Colne.
Official Fringe venues were packed with live music fans, while buskers and street entertainers brought music and colour to the town.
Singing and dancing spilled out into the streets as visitors moved between performances, shops, pubs, cafés and venues, creating a genuine festival feel from morning until night.
The 2026 festival was sponsored by Barnfield Construction.
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