The Great British R&B Festival 2025

BUSKERS COLNE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE

Hello everyone, and welcome to the 34th Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival. Has it really been a year since I wrote my last piece for the festival programme? It seems incredible that Colne Blues Society is about to start its fourth year as Artistic Director and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in that time, along with our partners Colne Town Council. This year we were honoured to receive the UK Blues Federation award for the ‘Best UK Blues Based Festival’. Expectations are high for number 34 and we’re anticipating record numbers this year. So please, dive in, and while you’re in town check out some of our amazing local talent. As in the past two years, the opening spots on the main Hippodrome stage have been given over to three local bands who we believe are among the very best on the local scene. First up, on Friday Evening we have Design Rewind. This powerhouse band have been building their musical identity since they were kids, soaking up musical influences from Metallica to Steely Dan. With two albums of gloriously retro yet uniquely original funky rock/pop under their belt and a third on the way, these guys will kick off GBRBF 2025 in grand style. We have a Manouche Jazz outfit in Colne! Formed at last year’s festival, The New Market Street Hot Club are four stellar musicians from Colne who will ease you into Saturday’s proceedings with the Parisienne Hot Club stylings of Grappelli and Reinhardt. With a recent slot supporting local heroes Fandjango at Colne Municipal Hall, where they performed to over 400 people, these guys are one of the must-see bands of the weekend. On Sunday we bring you the Tom Petty Preservation Society, some of the area’s hardest working and sought after musicians in an authentic tribute to the giant of American rock.

54 www.bluesfestival.co.uk