Eric Burdon, Yardbirds, more for Great British Blues fest

Eric Burdon, The Yardbirds, Groundhogs, Dr Feelgood and many others have been lined up for the 25th annual Great British Rhythm And Blues Festival, which takes place on August 22-25.

They’re joined on the bill by the Band Of Friends, Lucky Peterson, Eric Sardinas, Otis Grand, Mike Sanchez, Andy Fairweather Low, the Martin Barre Band, Caravan, Grainne Duffy and the Yardbirds, with many more besides.

An additional feature of this year’s event is the headline appearance of the Snake Davis Jazz Band on a new jazz stage.

A total of 600 artists will perform over the four-day festival in Colne, Lancashire, which last year won Best Blues Festival at the European Blues Awards 2013.

Organiser Alison Goode says: “We consider it a fantastic achievement to still be going so strong after all these years.

“Every year we try to cater for all musical tastes – and again, we’re really excited by the lineup we have already secured. We look forward to welcoming back loyal supporters who return year after year, as well as those visiting for the first time. It should be an anniversary to remember.”

Discount earlybird tickets are on sale now via the festival website.

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.