The Great British R&B Festival 2024

LOCAL MUSIC SCENE

COLNE - WEEK IN WEEK OUT The Colne music scene continues to flourish with more and more of our venues hosting regular live

music. Local musicians continue to represent ‘Bluestown’ far and wide. English Teacher, fronted by Colne songsmith Lily Fontaine, tour Europe, America and the UK this summer. The video to their song “The World’s Biggest Paving Slab” was shot locally, and its subject can be seen directly outside Colne Town Hall! Local legends Danny Handley and Barney Williams continue to work with John Steel on the Animals and Friends tour and will spend the summer reminding audiences in Australia and the UK what the British R&B explosion was all about. The legacy of GBRBF is that it has nurtured and encouraged local talent and great new acts continue to emerge on to the scene. Ally & Joe, take their festival debut on the Little Theatre Acoustic Stage this year, courtesy of Dr Tom Attah. Silky smooth vocals and great guitar work give this young duo a presence and maturity that belies their age. Our main stages boast a stellar line-up once again, culminating in a UK festival exclusive performance from the legendary Matt Schofield. Colne’s theatres are all looking first class for the festival weekend, following extensive improvement and refurbishment work over the past year. As always, we have a great programme of street entertainment and, of course, the Official Fringe offers one of the biggest free festival venue circuits in the UK. There is nowhere else you want to be on the August bank holiday weekend. Enjoy, and we’ll see you all again in 2025.

Simon Shackleton Festival Coordinator

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