Gloucester City Centre will be alive with the sound of blues for nine days starting on Saturday July 27, running until Sunday August 4.

The long-running, free Gloucester Rhythm and Blues Festival is a highlight of Gloucester's Summer of Music, Arts and Culture and features a blend of international and UK acts.

Grainne Duffy from County Monaghan, Ireland will be on the Greyfriars Stage at Café René. Grainne and her band have been touring extensively with concerts in Europe, Thailand, Norway, Canada, and Morocco.

Firm festival favourites Wille And The Bandits, Innes Sibun, Steve Browning, Keith Thompson, The Foregate Blues Band, Oliver Darling, Memphis, and Luke Doherty are part of this year's extensive line-up.

The Station Hotel and The Tall Ship will be hosting special preview gigs on Friday 26 July with Jason & Val and D.B. Smith respectively. All venues hosting music are a short walk from the centre.

Gloucester Rhythm and Blues Festival venues 2019

• Angie's Bar - Bull Lane

• Café René - Southgate Street

• The Cavern - College Street

• Cross Keys Inn - Cross Keys Lane

• Dick Whittington - Westgate Street

• The Fountain Inn - Westgate Street

• Gloucester Brewery - Gloucester Docks

• The New Inn - Northgate Street

• The Old Bell - Southgate Street

• Peppers Café - Bull Lane

• The Station Hotel - Bruton Way

• The Tall Ship - Southgate Street

• Tank - Gloucester Docks

• The Tiger's Eye at the Old Bell, Southgate Street

Cllr Steve Morgan, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure at Gloucester City Council, said: "Once again, this year we welcome a great range of high-quality performers to Gloucester who will cater to a wide range of tastes.

"With venues both large and small there will be that special Gloucester flavour which comes with our diverse community mix - a good time will be had by all!"

Gloucester Rhythm & Blues is a mainstay of Gloucester's Summer of Music, Arts & Culture and is organised by Marketing Gloucester in association with Tim Porter and supported by Gloucester City Council.

To find out more, visit https://gloucesterblues.wordpress.com/.