RAMSBOTTOM is set to play host to its first ever blues festival in a bid to win a firm place in the Rhythm and Blues calendar.

The 2004 Thwaites Beers Ramsbottom Rhythm and Blues Festival will bring a three-day feast of live musical talent and top drawer acts to the town on the weekend of June 18, 19 and 20.

Thousands of fan are expected to flock to see more than 40 bands at four venues.

The event, promoted by Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, will boast an array of high-profile bands such as Paul Lamb, Snake Davis, Slack Alice, Mick Abrahams - a founder member of Jethro Tull - and American Adrian Byron-Burns - ex-member of Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, on the main stage at Ramsbottom Civic Hall.

The artists will have well-known support bands and "roadhouse venues", featuring popular groups from throughout East Lancashire, will be held at the The Royal Oak, Grant Arms and Clarence pubs. Two more venues, with acoustic and solo artists stages, are also in the pipeline.

The festival, sponsored by Thwaites and supported by Pennine Telecommunications and Manchester International Airport, will bring another "first" to Ramsbottom.

A steam hauled "Blues Train" run by the East Lancashire Railway and with music on board is planned to carry festival-goers to the town from Rawtenstall or Bury.

The town's busy Bridge Street will be shut to traffic throughout the weekend and a Sunday market is planned.

The festival is the brainchild of businessman and musician Kelvin Barlow, rhythm guitarist with four-piece band Ronnie "Razorback" Gibson and the King Bees.

He hit on the idea of bringing blues to his home town when he was driving back from Colne last summer.

He said: "It struck me that Ramsbottom was an ideal venue for a festival because of the close proximity of venues, community spirit, and the steam railway."

"I knew it was unlikely that a third festival was being held in Bury this year so I put it to Ged Kelly, director of Bury's arts centre, that we should have one in Ramsbottom, on the lines of the Colne festival. The event just grew from that. We are expecting fans from all over the North West to come to the festival and hope it will be the first of many."

He also enlisted the help of fellow band member and life-long friend, bass guitarist Chris Cullen, a logistics professional, who is to oversee the placement of venue equipment and the running order for the roadhouse sessions.

The trio then brought in Stuart Law, the landlord of the Royal Oak, one of the three premier venues, who will contribute his skills on venue management to the organising team.