Blue is the colour for return of hit festival

Music fans are urged to head to Doncaster on Sunday – to enjoy a day of live rock and blues music.
The Mark Pontin Group are playing Doncaster Blues Festival on Sunday.The Mark Pontin Group are playing Doncaster Blues Festival on Sunday.
The Mark Pontin Group are playing Doncaster Blues Festival on Sunday.

Acts including Dutch pop-rock exports Focus, guitarist Aynsley Lister and Doncaster favourites Avit Blues Band are all booked to perform at the fourth Doncaster Blues Rhythm & Rock Festival, which takes place on Sunday, from 2pm to 10pm, at The Dome.

Stephen Stanley, of promoter Solid Entertainments, said: “There are acts playing blues rhythm rock and the headliners are prog-rockers.

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“It starts at 2pm with the Luke Doherty Band, followed by the Avit Blues Band, Mark Pontin Group, Little Devils and Aynsley Lister. The headliners are Focus.

Luke Doherty, of The Luke Doherty Band.Luke Doherty, of The Luke Doherty Band.
Luke Doherty, of The Luke Doherty Band.

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The Avit Blues Band.The Avit Blues Band.
The Avit Blues Band.

“It’s a good strong line-up. There’s something for everyone.

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“There are famous acts like Focus who have had hit singles, and some well-established acts like Aynsley Lister.

“It’s the first time in Doncaster for the Mark Pontin Group from Wales and Little Devils, from South London, while there is also Avit Blues Band who are well known in the area – they played the first festival – and The Luke Doherty Band.”

Focus are a Dutch progressive rock band famous for UK top-20 singles Hocus Pocus – which featured in the 2014 film RoboCop – and Sylvia, while Aynsley Lister is British blues-rock guitarist, singer and songwriter from Leicester.

Little Devils are a blues band tipped as ‘ones to watch in 2015’ in the Wrinkly Rockers Annual Awards after winning a best live band honour shortly after they were established in 2010.

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The Mark Pontin Group are a three-piece blues/rock outfit from Swansea, while Avit Blues B and are described as ‘one of the most exciting new blues acts to appear in a long time’.

The Luke Doherty Band is led by 20-year-old Welshman Luke, who started playing at a young age – at the age of 12 he was asked to appear on the main stage to open a three-day music festival.

Stephen said the festival attracted different crowds each year, depending on the line-ups, with last year’s particularly popular thanks to the appearance of Wilko Johnson.

The Dr Feelgood star performed shortly after announcing he was fighting cancer, a battle he has since won.

Stephen said: “He sold exceptionally well.

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“It’s a different line-up each year attracting different audiences.

“Of course there are people who come for individual acts and there are rock and blues fans who come out and stay all day. It’s about value for money – six acts for £24, when normally you’d pay £10 for one.”

And Stephen urged people to come along and check out the festival and its acts.

“People can expect some really good live music,” he said.

“It’s not all blues, there’s a mix. If you like live music, check out these acts.”

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