THE popular Abertillery Blues Festival is back for a third year and will be held over three days.

From Thursday, July 12, to Saturday, 14 July, the festival will be held under a marquee in the picturesque setting of Abertillery Park.

This year's will see a separate Welsh Blues, British Blues and an International Blues Night and it is headlined by Grammy Award winner John Hammond who will be playing his only European date of the year.

The festival has grown in popularity over the last three year's to become one of the biggest Blues events in Wales.

The James Kendall Band will open up the event, followed by Chicago electric blues three piece, Crosscut Saw.

J44 will be wowing audiences with their blues and Rhythm and Blues singer, Jim Diamond and Snake Davies will round off the first night with performances of their hits from the 1980s, I Should Have Know Better and the theme from Boon, Hi-ho Silver.

On Friday night classic blues rock bands including Sixties giants The Yardbirds and The Animals will wow the crowd.

Saturday night sees a great line up of artists from across the UK and America, with Blaenau Gwent band Stone Fox performing during the day.

Tickets cost between £5 and £40 - contact the box office on 01495 355800 or visit www.blaenaugwentvenues.com