The Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival 2026

A CELEBRATION OF John Mayall Sunday evening at the Pendle Hippodrome is dedicated to the late John Mayall, the ‘godfather of British Blues’, founder of the Bluesbreakers, and mentor of some of the finest guitar players in British Blues history. The evening session commences with Sonny Flint's Beano Bluesbreakers, a tribute to one of the most influential Blues records of all time. The iconic ‘Beano’ Bluesbreakers album, released in 1966, features a 21-year-old Eric Clapton and was produced by the legendary British Producer Mike Vernon, who sadly passed away earlier this year. Sonny is the son of Hughie Flint, drummer on the original album. He is joined by a fine ensemble of musicians, including Laine Hines on vocals and harmonica. Laine is the son of the late Denny Laine, co-founder of the Moody Blues and Wings. When we invited our festival headliner, Walter Trout, to return to Colne and play at our tribute to John Mayall, he was happy to be asked to honour his old friend and mentor. Walter’s Blues credentials are impeccable. He played with a huge list of Blues greats in the late 60s and early 70s, including John Lee Hooker, Big Mama Thornton and Bo Diddley. He toured all over the world with Canned Heat in the early 80s before John Mayall invited him to join the Bluesbreakers in 1984, where Walter stayed for 5 years before leaving to form his own band in 1989.

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