TALENTED young blues bands could win the chance to perform alongside their heroes at a prestigious East Lancashire festival - and then record an album!

Organisers of the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival, Colne, have teamed up with the Burnley-based Sticky Label company for a competition which could also lead to a recording contract.

Both hope to build on the work already being done across Europe by British bands The Hoax, Ainsley Lister and Sam Payne.

Gary Hood, creator and organiser of the August Bank holiday festival, said: "We are looking to find the next generation of British Blues artists.

"This is a unique opportunity for emerging talent to be given the best platform for their music - a main stage appearance in front of one of the most fervent Blues audiences in Europe, with the possibility of gaining a record deal as well." Richard Slater, manager of The Sticky Label, said: "Britain has been historically associated with the best in world Blues and R'n'B.

"I want that trend to continue, as I believe we are home to some of the finest as yet unrecognised talent around."

Five bands from across Britain will be selected to appear at the 9th annual Festival, which takes place over the August Bank Holiday weekend at Colne - an event which attracted an estimated 35,000 fans from across Britain and Europe last year.

And all the bands will be featured on a compilation album which will be recorded at The Sticky Label's state-of-the art studio and released to coincide with the Festival.

At least one of those bands will then be offered a full album deal by the label.

Bands or artists wanting to be involved need to be performing original material and ideally have an average age of 25 or under.

Tapes or CDs, and any accompanying materials should be sent to Richard Slater, Sticky Label, PO Box 115, Burnley, BB11 4ZZ. Closing date for submissions is March 31 1998.

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