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The Great British R&B Festival.
Celebrating 21 years of the Best in British Blues
Lyndon Anderson
Hamsters
27- 30 August- Colne
A festival full of blues, entertainment and talent.
Year after year the festival brings the best in both national and international R&B music – we’re boasting one of our best line-ups yet.
Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, the crème de la crème of the Blues world will be gracing the stages to play to the thousands of fans who travel from all over Europe to the festival.
The International, British and Acoustic Stages, along with the five roadhouse venues, will see a record 600 artistes descend on Colne.
With authentic electric Blues, rock, jazz and acoustic sets, there really is something for everyone.
Kicking off the festival in true Blues style, the International Stage will be welcoming The Hamsters, Dr Feelgood, Nine Below Zero and Eddie & The Hot Rods on the opening night, Friday 27th.
On the British Stage, Friday’s line-up will include Junkhouse Dog Blues Band, which has one of the best harmonica players on the circuit and one of the North West’s ‘must see’ bands, Atlanta Roots.
Radio Lancashire will be taking over the British Stage on the opening night and broadcasting live between 8pm and midnight.
The Blues Train
Blues fans can soak up the atmosphere of this year’s 21st Anniversary Great British R&B Festival before they even step foot in Colne.
Blues musicians will be welcoming commuters as they arrive at Colne Railway Station with some acoustic tunes.
Lil’ Ian Goodsman and Brian Eastwood will be playing on the platform on the Saturday and keeping commuters entertained on Sunday will be Rag Time Jug Orchestra and Ginjammers.
Monday will see Tom Attah strumming to the commuters.
And back by popular demand, the Music Train will roll its merry way along the East Lancashire railway line to kick start the festival in true Colne Blues Style.
The Music Train is fast becoming a festival travel tradition and this year, Blues musician Tom Attah will welcome festival-goers aboard with an exclusive acoustic set from Preston to Colne on the opening evening.
The Music Train will leave Blackpool South at 5.44pm, then Preston at 6.20pm and arrive in to Colne at 7.37pm on the Friday of the festival.
Passengers will be able to get in the mood with real ale on board.
Prior to this, Charlie White will be singing the Blues and drumming up interest in a bid to promote the festival.
He will be performing at Manchester Victoria between 5pm and 7pm on 5 August and then from 7pm on the train to Blackburn.
Loyal Blues fans from across the UK and Europe will make their annual pilgrimage to Lancashire for the popular, music event held over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
And getting there is as easy as ever, thanks to the continued partnership of festival organisers Pendle Leisure Trust and East Lancashire Community Rail Partnership.
Following the success of the past four festivals, they have teamed up for the fifth year to provide
a simple, stress-free and reliable journey to and from the four day event.
Additional train services are to run over the weekend to accommodate extra commuters and late services will be provided to ensure that you don’t miss a moment of this year’s exciting festival line-up.
Festival organiser, Alison Goode says “Travelling by train is, without doubt, the easiest way to get to and from Colne throughout the weekend.
“And this way, festival-goers are already well into the spirit of things before they event step foot off the train!”
Tim Webber, Managing Director and Chairman of Barnfield Construction, the festival’s main
sponsor, says “We are delighted to be supporting this fantastic event again this year.
“It does a terrific job of bring friends of the festival from all over the world and the local community together over the Bank Holiday weekend, which in turn is excellent for the local economy.”
For more train travel information, log on to www.communityraillancashire.co.uk
Welcoming campers on Friday at Colne & Nelson Rugby Club will be Poorboy and the Welsh T Band.
Saturday 28th will see an array of hotly anticipated artistes across the stages.
Singing the Blues on the International Stage will be Scottish singer/songwriter Sandi Thom, Ben Waters Band and all the way from America, Magic Slim and the Teardrops and Omar and the Howlers.
If that’s not enough for you, some of the best British Blues talent, including The Alex McKown Band, Chantel McGregor, Frank White and Cliff Stocker’s Legendary Slack Alice, are on the British Stage.
We will be welcoming back to the Acoustic Stage Graham Robinson, Lucy Zirins and Dave Arcari, plus many more acts, new and old.
Hitting the right notes across the roadhouse venues throughout
Saturday will be Cross Fire, The Cans, Steve French Band, Sidewinder and Bare Bones Boogie Band and more.
Tim Webber, Managing Director and Chairman of Barnfield Construction, the festival’s main sponsor, said: “We are delighted to be supporting this fantastic event again this year.
“It does a terrific job of bringing friends of the festival from all over the world and the local community together over the Bank Holiday weekend, which in turn is excellent for the local economy.”
Festival organiser, Alison Goode, added: “This festival is going to be electric and we’re confident that this will be the biggest and best year yet!”
Nine Below Zero
Magic Slim
Alex and TJ of brilliant Yorkshire Blues Band Crosscut Saw talk of their love of music, the blues and the Colne Blues Festival