Festival’s a Big Hit

Burnley Express

Burnley’s big blues festival rocked to packed-out crowds of fans as it returned for a triumphant 20th year.

Artists from around the world entertained thousands of people at Burnley Mechanics and all over the town as the Burnley Blues Festival warmed up the chilly Easter weekend.

It was standing room only from the start with exclusive performances from Californian bluesmen Charlie and the Nightcats and Denmark’s Thorjφrn Risager, and carried on with Earl Thomas, Little Willie Littlefield, Connie Lush, Mike Sanchez and the Potions, Angela Brown, Dani Wilde and Henry Butler among many other, who entertained the crowds who flocked to the festival from all over the country.

All the other venues in the main and fringe festivals were buzzing as the festival drew in the largest crowds in several years, as revellers in their thousands packed the pubs and clubs to catch the biggest musical event of the year.

The famous Blues Cruise boat trip also proved its popularity, with blues fans climbing aboard for a more relaxed blues experience with musicians Khalif “Wailin” Walter, Eddie Blue Lester and Alex Mays.

The annual fringe festival was just as busy as the main event, with pubs in the town centre hosting a wide range of artists and bands from the ever-popular Uptown Band at the Bier Huis to jazz and blues band Chance To Dance and cover band Blues Train at The Talbot Hotel.

Festival organiser Barbara Hood said the festival had been one of the most popular in recent years.

She added: “It all went extremely well, the whole festival was really successful. Everything was sold out and people really enjoyed the weekend. I would possibly say it went better than ever and the Mechanics was packed throughout the weekend. We had seven exclusives where the performers flew in especially for the festival, including big names like Duke Robillard, Little Willie Littlefield, Earl Thomas and Little Charlie and the Nightcats, not forgetting the brilliant performances in Oliver’s Bar. It was a real hit.”

Burnley Express