PREPARATIONS are well underway for one of the greatest musical extravaganzas of the year -- the Great British R&B Festival.

Now in its 13th year, the August bank holiday festival will turn Colne into the blues capital of Britain for four consecutive days and nights.

A great line-up offers something for all tastes with some new names sharing the billing with some of the biggest acts in R&B.

Headlining the entire festival will be a true blues legend, Lucky Peterson. Other top names who are expected to attract tens of thousands of fans to Colne over the four days include Tommy Castro, Big George Jackson and Eric Sardinas.

Colne Municipal Hall will once again play host to the international stage where the top names in R&B will play to packed houses.

For the first time this year the Benedictine Super Roadhouse based at Pendle Leisure Centre will run for the full four days of the festival showcasing the talents of artists from across the Atlantic and also introducing the best of new homegrown talent.

Then there are the Roadhouse sessions which have help turn the festival into one big street party with the whole of Colne town centre turning out and supporting this major event.

A whole fringe culture has developed around the festival with pubs and cafes putting on their own entertainment to coincide with the festival, plus a wide array of workshops, free events and stalls and a record fair.

The festival gets off to a cracking start on Friday, August 23 with headliner of the day Eric Sardinas whose showmanship has to be seen to be believed.

Saturday night sees Big George Jackson bringing his rich vocals and harmonica playing to the Municpal Hall, then on Sunday, it's the turn of Tommy Castro (right) and his band to bring the day's events to a close.

Bank Holiday Monday has Lucky Peterson appearing at the festival for the first time and then there's a rousing finale guaranteed from King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys.

Tickets for the event range from £16 to £22 per day or a full tickets costs £65. For full details of this year's event, contact the festival hotline on 0870 909 3399.