GARY Hood leans back in his chair and the merest hint of a contented smile crosses his lips.

Through his office window workmen can be seen removing the final banner advertising the Great British R&B Festival from the front of Colne Municipal Hall.

It's a symbolic moment.

We meet on Wednesday morning some 36 hours after the country's largest R&B event came to an end.

"You know, I think that was one of the most enjoyable festivals yet," says Gary.

He should know. From its inception in 1990, Gary Hood has been the driving force behind the four-day party which transforms Colne into a seething mass of music lovers, all out for a good time.

With some un-Bank Holiday like weather, the crowds really came out in force this year and around 80,000 people are believed to have visited the town.

"Being honest I never thought the festival would become as big as it has, but from the start I was determined to create the biggest R&B festival in the country," says Gary.

From relatively humble beginnings - three venues - the festival now is spread all over town from the main stage in the Muni, to live bands in virtually every pub.

It may be less than two days since King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys walked off the main stage, the final act of the festival, but Gary's thoughts are already turning to next year's event.

"I have got some strong thoughts about next year," he says," and no, I can't divulge what they are yet.

"Most of this year's festival line-up was in place in January and I would expect it to be the same for 2003."

Before turning to next year, I asked Gary to pick out some of the highlights from this year's event.

"In some ways it's a little unfair to single out individual highlights," says Gary.

"There are so many good bands on that it's just not possible to see everybody. There are a number of people who have been here for years and I still haven't seen them."

With a little persuasion, Gary admits that the event's main headliner Lucky Peterson lived up to and surpassed his reputation as a blues legend in the making.

"He was amazing," said Gary.

Guitar virtuoso Eric Sardinas, who proved what a stunning showman he is, and Tommy Castro are also mentioned in dispatches.

The young prodigy Joanne Shaw Taylor is Gary's tip as the one to watch. This year she stunned the Benedictine Roadhouse with a fantastic live set

"It's amazing that a year ago she wasn't even playing. I'd love to see her back next year and she'd definitely be on the main stage," he says.

So how does Gary go about planning the four-day event?

"It's evolved over time but the Friday night is always a Blues/rock night, Saturday is more traditional Blues, Sunday is very much a West Coast/ Texas boogie day and then Monday will end with a spectacular dance party.

"The only criteria I have is that an act's roots must be in Blues."

The rise of the Colne Festival means that it can now attract some of the biggest names in the world.

"Certainly I only have to ring an American promoter and I get put through straight away," says Gary.

"The success here is partly down to the great team who have grown up with the festival and with the R&B fans themselves who create such a great atmosphere.

"Once a band has played here they always want to come back."

You can't help but feel that Gary is already looking forward to next year.

MR BLUES: Gary Hood, already preparing for next year's event