A COMPETITION named in honour of tragic Cowling musician Jessica Foxley this year received a shake-up.

The Jessica Foxley Unsigned initiative showcases young singers and musicians as part of the annual Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne.

The Initiative was set up by Jessica’s parents Paul and Margaret Foxley after their daughter died at the age of 21 in a car crash.

This year festival organisers are making numerous changes to the feel of the hugely-popular event, which takes over the town on August Bank Holiday weekend.

Instead of looking for new and different artists, they want to bring back past winners of Jessica Foxley Unsigned – and are asking blues fans for their favourites.

A spokesman said: “We are doing this to celebrate the success of the project and the musicians it has brought to light, as well as letting blues fans see how the young artistes have progressed from their first performance at the festival and listen to them again.

“So, who ‘wowed’ you and who would you like to see perform again? There are a limited number of spots available on the British Stage and four of the official roadhouses and we want to get together a selection of the best of the best.”

The Jessica Foxley initiative was first introduced to the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in 2010, and every year since the festival has been inundated with bands and musicians wanting to perform.

The spokesman said: “Some of the previous artistes have used the event as a springboard to propel themselves into the music world and such is the calibre that some of the bands have returned to perform as part of the festival in their own right.”

Fans can choose from winners such as the Tom Killner Band, Bright Shapes, Catfish, the Midnight Ramble, Blind Dead, the McJones Band or TC And The Moneymakers.

People can leave their suggestions on the festival’s Facebook page, thegreatbritishrandbfestival.