Colne hits the right notes as over 30,000 attend 34th Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival

By Scott Dawson Advertising

25 Aug 2025

Over 30 000 people attended the festival across the weekend.jpg.jpg

The streets of Colne were alive with music, energy and thousands of smiling faces this August Bank Holiday Weekend, as the 34th Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival brought the town to life in spectacular style with over 30,000 visitors across the weekend.

Music lovers from across the UK and beyond descended on the town to celebrate one of the most anticipated weekends in the UK music calendar.

With three incredible main venues, the Pendle Hippodrome, The Exchange Project Stage and The Fort Vale Little Theatre Acoustic Stage, this year’s festival delivered an unforgettable showcase of rhythm and blues talent.

The award-winning event kicked off on Friday night with a stunning opening lineup, setting the tone for a weekend of show-stopping performances and unforgettable moments.

Over 50 artists graced the main stages, featuring a mix of rising stars, established names and 2025 UK Blues Federation award winners, all delivering world-class sets that had audiences cheering long into the night.

Headline acts including Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse, When Rivers Meet, and Gerry McAvoy’s Band of Friends delivered electrifying performances that brought the house down and will be remembered by fans for years to come.

Alongside the main festival, the Official Fringe Festival brought even more energy, featuring over 150 live performances across 16 venues throughout the town.

Local businesses enjoyed a surge in visitors, with cafes, bars, shops, and restaurants all packed with festivalgoers soaking up the atmosphere.

Beyond the music, the festival featured street performers, family-friendly activities and buskers, creating a vibrant, inclusive, and unforgettable festival experience for all ages.

Simon Shackleton, festival co-ordinator, said: “This year has been something truly special. The atmosphere was incredible, the talent on display was second to none, and to see so many people come together to celebrate rhythm and blues in our beautiful town was just amazing. Colne did us proud.”

Nathan Cutler, events and facilities officer at Colne Town Council, said: “What a fantastic weekend for Colne. The town was absolutely buzzing with over 30,000 visitors across the weekend, and it was heartwarming to see families, music fans and visitors of all ages enjoying everything Colne has to offer. Events like this shine a spotlight on our town and bring real benefits to our community.”

Tickets for the 2026 Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival go on sale on Tuesday 26th August at 9am on the official website: www.bluesfestival.co.uk

The 2025 festival was proudly sponsored by Barnfield Construction, continuing their support of Colne’s thriving cultural and creative scene.

Learn more here: www.barnfieldconstruction.co.uk

You can get more reaction from the 34th Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival on social media and via the official website: www.bluesfestival.co.uk

Latest news

1

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes Royal Bowland Park street scene NEW.jpg.jpg

Bellway to build 183 high quality new homes

29 Oct 2025

2

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth - Representatives from the University's Business School, local SMEs and the IOEE

University of Lancashire recognised for entrepreneurship and supporting business growth

29 Oct 2025

3

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire BAE Typhoon ECRS Mk2 Radar

£8bn Typhoon order is great news for Lancashire

28 Oct 2025

4

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold The Mill at Conder Green

Award-winning Lancashire wedding venue and hotel is sold

28 Oct 2025

5

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm PM+M promotions

PM+M announces another 19 promotions across the firm

27 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event
Holiday Inn Hotel
Networking
28 Oct 2025 - 18 Nov 2025

November / December 2025 Magazine Launch Event

Holiday Inn, Blackpool

16:46 - 16:45

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
06 Nov 2025 - 06 Nov 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – November

Porsche Centre South Lakes, Carnforth, LA6 1FW

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Roundtables
10 Nov 2025 - 10 Nov 2025

Lancashire Police business update with The Police and Crime Commissioner

Lancaster Castle, Lancaster, LA1 1YN

14:00 - 16:00

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human
2.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

AI, Creativity, and what it means to be human

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity
1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
11 Nov 2025 - 11 Nov 2025

Beyond the Brand: Building trust through values and integrity

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 20:00

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
13 Nov 2025 - 13 Nov 2025

The Business Network Central and East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

The AI Lab: E-commerce
Ai Lab ecommerce (1).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Nov 2025 - 14 Nov 2025

The AI Lab: E-commerce

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin