BOWNESS Bay Blues is returning for its sixth year, building on its reputation as a go-to destination for blues fans from all over the world.

With bookings from as far as New Zealand, and bands coming from Australia, the festival has attracted return visits year on year.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Windermere, 2017’s event will see all three nights held in the Wheelhouse. Friday night will have double headliners of Australian born blues guitarist Geoff Achison with his UK Souldiggers and six-piece band from Preston, The Stumble.

The Saturday headliner will be rock’n’roll band LaVendore Rogue. Finally, on Sunday, the last act to play the Wheelhouse will be The Revolutionaries.

David Thomas, one of the organisers, said: “The festival is going from strength to strength. The view I have is that the arts scene in Cumbria is thriving. There is a growing demand in Cumbria for live performance; in this case live music.

“There’s an appetite for it. Also as this takes place as the winter comes to an end, the weekend before Easter, people want to get out and do things at the weekend.

“We are expecting big things from Geoff Achison as he is world known. He plays round the world, putting together a band in whatever country he is playing in.”

Many other bands will play over the weekend, including Dean Newton, Big Joe Bone, Benjamin Bassford, Robin Bibi, Catfish, South Quay, Troy Redfern, Scarlett, Dean Newton, Troubador, Setting Suns and Ash Wilson Band.

Cumbria will be represented by the likes of local performers - Elderly Brothers, Evie Plumb and Changing Rooms.

The main festival, in Bowness, will take place at Lake District Boat Club, Hole in’t Wall, The Quayside and the Wheelhouse, both at The Ship Inn, The Hydro Hotel and Beresford’s Restaurant.

The 2017 festival will also include a Blues Cruise of Lake Windermere on he Saturday and a free Fringe Festival in Windermere.

Tickets are selling fast for the event, which will run from April 7 to 9.