BLUES fans can this month see how young musicians have been helped by the legacy of a Cowling woman.

Talented young people each year compete at the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival to win a prize in memory of Jessica Foxley.

Organisers of the Colne festival have this year invited back previous winners instead of holding the annual contest again.

The bands and solo artists will perform in Colne’s market square on the outdoor Jessica Foxley Unsigned Stage.

Jessica, herself a talented young musician, died at the age of 21 in a car crash while travelling to a wedding in Lothersdale.

July 2010 Jessica’s family teamed up with festival organisers to create the Unsigned Stage to showcase upcoming young blues talent.

The format has been changed this year to fall in line with numerous other changes to the ‘feel’ of the popular festival.

Bright Shapes, Good Foxy and Adenland will be performing on The Jessica Foxley Unsigned Stage in Colne’s market square, on Sunday, August 28 between 2pm and 5pm.

Festival spokesman Sue Madigan, said: “We are doing this to celebrate the success of the project and the musicians it has brought to light, as well as letting blues fans see how the young artistes have progressed from their first performance at the festival and listen to them again.

“We asked ‘who wowed you and who would you like to see perform again?’ We got a great response and some of your favourites have been chosen.

“Since 2010 we have worked in partnership with Jessica Foxley Music Projects every year to provide young musicians with a high-quality, high-profile performance experience.

“Every year we have been inundated with young bands and musicians wanting to perform at Europe’s number one blues festival.

“Some of the previous artistes have used the event as a springboard to propel themselves into the music world and such is the calibre that some of the bands have returned to perform as part of the Festival in their own right.”

Visit bluesfestival.co.uk to book tickets for the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival.