MORE than 8,000 music fans descended on a County Durham town for its annual blues festival.
Saturday's ninth Stanley Blues Festival promised the strongest line-up yet, mixing North-East talent with national and international acts.
First off was The Watts 'n' Whiffin Big Band, who feature former musical director of the Blues Brothers touring show, Les Watts, and guitar virtuoso Dave Whiffin.
Scottish five piece Blues 'n' Trouble's mix of blues and boogie, and The Nightporters' brand of rockabilly-tinged blues, got people moving.
Big Joe Turner, former bass player with BB King, brought the mellower sounds of Memphis-style blues with the Memphis Blues Caravan.
The pace picked up with an hour-long set by headline act Paul Lamb and the King Snakes.
Organiser John Kearney, of Consett studio Northern Recording, said the event attracted a crowd of about 8,200.
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