IF you're into the blues, Lydney's the place to be next weekend (June 19) when the Taurus Crafts Blues Festival plays host to six bands and 30 performers offering nine hours of solid blues music.

The festival opens at 1pm with gigs starting at 3.20pm with vintage blues swing band Rollo Markee and the Tailshakers. Tommy Allen and Johny Hewitt follow at 5pm. Guitarist Tommy is rated as one of the top British blues guitarists and played with girl band the Sugarbabes in 2001. At 6.30pm Alma Latina take to the stage followed by the Bex Marshall Band at 8pm. Bex specialises in "blue hot acoustic slide roots with a whippin' of bluegrass" and her voice is simply described as "incredible".

Last to the stage at 9.45pm, the Big Blues Tribe, a nine piece band in the style of BB King, Ray Charles and, more lately, Jools Holland's R&B Orchestra.

As well as the blues, there'll be plenty of food on offer, a range of local beers, wines and ciders and children's activities.