The Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival 2026

Over 35 years and 30 plus albums later, Walter is still recording and touring. He has overcome life-threatening illness and huge adversity while continuing to amass a following on both sides of the Atlantic. We are enormously happy to welcome him back to Colne this year for what will certainly be a great evening of celebration, and another highlight in the history of GBRBF. The Kyla Brox Band make a welcome return to Colne to close our celebration and the 2026 festival. Kyla is one of the finest blues vocalists the UK has ever produced and, with her powerhouse band, she is a proud reminder of just how important the northwest UK Blues scene has been in the development of British Blues. Kyla’s father Victor knew John Mayall for many years and worked with both John and drummer Aynsley Dunbar in the Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation, following Aynsley’s work with the Bluesbreakers and Jeff Beck in the 60s. It has become something of a recent Colne tradition that Kyla and the band will be joined by some special guests on stage and once again this year there will be a few surprises in store. Kyla is the Queen of GBRBF and will always be welcomed at this festival. Who better to bring our celebration of northwest blues and the legacy of John Mayall to a close?

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