A NORTH-EAST student has won the chance to perform at an acclaimed blues festival.

Durham University history student Anjelika ‘Jelly’ Cleaver landed a slot at the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival after winning through nationwide auditions.

The 20-year-old singer-songwriter will line up alongside Courtney Pine, Avery Sunshine, Coco Montoya, Davina and the Vagabonds and The Revolutionaires at the festival in Colne, Lancashire over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

The four-day gathering was recently named the best blues festival in Europe and this year is expected to attract around 26,000 people.

Jelly will perform as part of the Jessica Foxley Unsigned initiative, established in memory of a talented young musician who died tragically in a car crash in 2009 aged 21.

She said: “I was looking around for singer-songwriter events, came across the R&B festival and decided to enter.

“I didn’t even expect to get a reply but now I’ve been chosen. I’m really excited and it’s massively encouraging for me. This is the best blues festival in Europe so who knows where it might lead.”

Jelly, originally from Southampton, was taught to play the guitar by her father, started writing songs at the age of ten, has been recording since she was 17 and has released her debut album. She describes her music as alternative folk/blues/soul.

While at Durham, she has collaborated with various bands including the all-girl group The Follies.

For more information on the festival, visit bluesfestival.co.uk