Two award-winning blues acts have been booked to appear at a popular local music festival this summer.

Now in its 19th year, Bures Music Festival has donated almost £170,000 to local charities since it began in 1997.

As usual, the event which will run from July 8-12, will span every genre of music from choral and jazz to blues and rock over a five day period.

It has just been announced that on the Friday night, two British Blues Awards winners will perform at the festival, which began as Jazz by the Stour and is still held on Bures recreation ground on the banks of the river on the Suffolk/Essex border.

Jo Harman, who picked up Female Vocalist of the Year, will be supported by Marcus Bonfanti, who won the gong for Best Acoustic Act. Both will perform with their bands alongside local hill-country blues act Space Eagle.

A choral evening – this year the Kelvedon Singers – and a jazz night featuring top vocalist Tina May will be held in St Mary’s Church.

Rock and pop take over the big top at the weekend, with a line-up including London ska group The Kubricks, Bee Gees tribute Jive Talkin’, plus a roster of popular bands from East Anglia. The festival will also include the B-Fest on the Thursday showcasing local young musicians in the big top.

As well as award-winning music, the festival has this year brought in prize-winning food.

Throughout the five days, Benson Blakes restaurant from Bury St Edmunds will be providing a varied menu of street food including their award-wining burgers, paella and flatbread pizzas.

Stock and Bailey’s popular champagne and Pimm’s tent are other new additions this year.

All profits from the music festival are donated to local good causes. Previous recipients have included the Dream Appeal at Colchester General Hospital, Ferriers Barn day centre, St Helena Hospice in Colchester and St Nicholas Hospice Care in Bury St Edmunds.

During June, Waitrose in Sudbury will be collecting ‘Community Matters’ green tokens for the festival.

Tickets for all events are available in the town from Waitrose during June, and from Compact Music in North Street.

In Bures, the Post Office and the Eight Bells Pub will also be selling tickets or they can be purchased online at buresmusicfestival.com. Visit the website for more details.