THE region's biggest free blues event will be graced by a 70-year-old veteran from Louisiana.

Harp player Lazy Lester will be supported by Scottish band Blues 'n' Trouble at the Stanley Blues Festival on Saturday, August 2.

Lazy Lester - named after his harmonica style - played in Lightning Slim's band and wrote several classics, including I Hear You Knocking, a hit for Dave Edmunds, and I'm A Lover Not A Fighter, which was covered by The Kinks.

Organiser Northern Recor-ding hopes the 11th festival will top last year's record-breaking attendance of 15,000.

It will be the first since the death of festival founder John Kearney.

Other headliners will be boogie and soul band The Big Town Playboys, who count Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Robert Plant and Jools Holland among their fans.

The festival will also feature The Nimmo Brothers from Glasgow, Detroit's Marcus Malone, Texan showmen Lightnin' Willie and the Poorboys, Tyneside's Brendan Healy Big Band and Teesside's Little Stevie and the Business. The compere will be former radio talk show host Mike "The Mouth" Elliot.

Paul Green, of Northern Recording, said: "Stanley Blues Festival has gained a reputation for friendly atmosphere, good crack and great music.

"It showcases world-class acts and attracts an amazing, knowledgeable audience.''

The event, supported by Derwentside District Council and Durham County Council, runs from noon to 6pm on The King's Head Field. Admission is free but parking costs £3.

The festival hotline number is (01207) 507310 and there is a website, www.stanleyblues. co.uk