KEIGHLEY Blues Live have released details of their first season of concerts at the town’s Octagon.

KBL, the successor to the popular Keighley Blues Club, will kick off on Friday, September 23 with a performance by the Kaz Hawkins Band.

The Kokomo Kings were due to play the second gig, on October 14, but they have cancelled their UK tour in order to record a new album.

The new headline performers will be Steve Phillips And The Rough Diamonds.

A club spokesman said: “I phoned Steve Phillips in his Robin’s Bay base and when I told him what had happened he was more than happy to help out.

“He went on to tell me the tale of his honouring of a date for a fundraising concert in aid of the Whitby RNLI resulting in him turning down the opportunity to perform at Glastonbury in 2007.

“When he told the Glastonbury organisers he couldn't make it due to a charity gig they couldn't believe it! Nobody had ever turned them down because of another engagement.

“Steve and the band played in front of a sell-out crowd of 120 people at the Whitby Friendship Rowing Club, raising £800 for the lifeboats which gave him a great deal more satisfaction than performing at Glasto to many thousands more.”

Guests during the October 14 gig will be the Ruby Stone Sound Collective, a team of long-established local musicians including Wayne Marshall on lead guitar and Tim Gilroy on drums.

Dove and Boweevil will perform on November 11, presenting American spirit from Norfolk, specialising in sultry seductiveness, rafter-shaking oomph and tight musicianship.

Support comes from Leeds duo Joe Kemp and Tracey Nicholls, whose lush acoustic songs mesmerisingly mix folk and acoustic jazz/soul.

The legendary swing and R&B band King Pleasure And The Biscuit Boys will perform on December 9, with support from The Backyard Burners.

The Backyard Burners are an act whose extensive repertoire includes bluegrass classics, a few modern country numbers and rock ‘n’ roll hits.

The Martin Barre Band, featuring the guitarist with Jethro Tull, will perform on January 20, with support from Jilly Riley.

The even-more-legendary Blues Band will headline Keighley Blues Live on February 10 support from local acoustic singer Sleepy Jake Segrave

Wille And The Bandits promise catchy hooks, loud guitars, thumping kick drum, howlin’ vocals and footstomping blues rock on March 3, with support from Ross Connor.

Mike Sanchez And The Portions will perform on March 24, showcasing a man regarded as one of the world’s most exciting charismatic performers of rhythm and blues and rock ‘n’ roll.

Jeff Achison, the highly-regarded Australian guitarist, presents heartfelt soul and funky grooves on April 9 with his band The Souldiggers.

• The Kaz Hawkins Band and acoustic blues trio Bessie’s Blues will perform at the Octagon, on Bradford Road, Sandbeds, on Friday September 23, from 7.45pm. Tickets cost £13 in advance, and £15 on the door. Visit keighleyblueslive.co.uk to check ticket availability