Winchcombe will play host to a whole weekend dedicated to blues music this month.

The organisers of the popular monthly event ‘Winchcombe Live’ have put together the Winchcombe Blues Weekend to celebrate the genre, bring visitors into the town and raise funds and awareness for a good cause.

Dave Wade is one of the organisers behind Winchcombe Blues Weekend and it’s fair to say his love and passion for music is a major driving force behind the event.

“I’ve loved blues music since I was a teenager,” he explained.

“We did the Isle of Man Blues Festival 21 years ago now, so the experience has certainly been useful – but getting older hasn’t!”

Winchcombe Live has been running since 2012, but this will be the first ever Winchcombe Blues Weekend.

The weekend will feature blues, rockabilly, folk and Americana artists from all over the country, as well as a Jug Band Workshop, which will encourage participants of all ages to go along and learn how to play traditional improvised instruments like jugs and washboards.

Dave continued: “We’ve got a real spectrum of Blues, from people like the Rumblestrutters who do prohibition era blues, to garage funk and Chicago blues, there’s a whole range and great variety.”

“We’ve had a lot of interest, we’re hoping for good crowds like we’ve had at Winchcombe Live recently.

“Thanks to support from sponsors Rosie’s Bar, The Old Bakery Café, Weston’s Cider and Winchcombe Town Council we’re able to offer free entry to a lot of events.”

The various shows will be held at The White Hart Inn, Rosie’s Bar and The Old Bakery Café over the weekend, which runs from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th April.

A majority of the shows will be free to enjoy, with True Strays, Tom C. Walker Band and the Jug Band Workshop the only events with a ticket price for audiences.

There will also be more music and two events on the Sunday to raise funds for an important cause.

“We’ve been around to local businesses in Winchcombe asking for donations to prizes for a raffle on the Sunday,” added Dave.

“The support we’ve received has been great. Proceeds from the raffle will go to the charity Lifting the Blues, who are all about destigmatising mental health through music, and providing support for carers of people with those issues.

“We’re also doing a pop-up music shop where people can come along and buy or sell instruments or old CDs and vinyl.”

For more information you can visit the Winchcombe Live Facebook page www.facebook.com/Winchcombelive/

For details on how to buy tickets email winchcombelive@gmail.com