The Great British R&B Festival 2025

Colne is set to welcome a true musical heavyweight this August, as the incredible James Mackie, former band member of ska legends The Selecter and keyboard player for the iconic pop band Madness, takes to the stage at the 2025 Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival. Performing with his powerhouse group The Out & Out Blues Band, Mackie and co. will hit the Exchange Project Stage on Saturday 23rd August at 5pm, delivering a high-energy set packed with blues, boogie, and pure musical fire. With a combined 150 years of experience between them, this band doesn’t just play the blues - they live it. Led by Mackie on Hammond organ and keys, the band features Ben Ruth on harmonica and vocals, Niels Rasmussen on guitar, Rob Livesey on bass and vocals, and James Barrott on drums. Known for their explosive live sets and incredible musicianship, the band will also be launching their brand-new album Are You Happy Yet? during the festival, available on vinyl and CD. This marks their first-ever appearance at the Colne festival, and for Mackie, it’s something of a full-circle moment. Having started his musical journey on the vibrant Lancaster music scene, Mackie quickly made a name for himself as a prodigious talent. By the age of 14, he was already honing his skills on the piano - and it wasn’t long before bigger stages beckoned. In 1980, Mackie joined two-tone pioneers The Selecter, contributing both Hammond organ and tenor sax to their distinctive sound and appearing on albums including Celebrate the Bullet and Dance Craze. Just a few years later, he was invited to become the new keyboard player for Madness - one of the UK’s biggest bands at the time. FORMER MADNESS AND SELECTER MUSICIAN TO PERFORM AT THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL

58 www.bluesfestival.co.uk