A WALL to wall Chicago Blues explosion is planned for this weekend in Bowness.

Fifteen talented Chicago bluesmen -and-women- are being shipped in to Mariner's on Lake Road for a double helping of authentic soul and blues from the USA.

Shepherding the crew of vocalists, bassists, drummers, trumpet and harmonica players into the Lakes is English-born Benjamin Ruth, now a familiar face on the Chicago Blues scene.

Benjamin said: "I am really excited about this gig in particular because I look forward to showing these folks the Lake District - none of them have been to Cumbria and some have never been abroad."

The line up includes five bands - Gertrude, Soulfix, The Pete Special Band, The Almighty Rockers and

The Convulsions and two solo artists.

Mariners' Malcolm Bawden told Off The Record: "Most of the other venues the group are playing on their tour are much bigger than ours but Ben Ruth played here last year and really wanted to come back.

It is going to be a good night - a blues extravaganza.

They are a very talented group of musicians - they are the genuine thing."

The Chicago blues crew will play at Mariners on both Friday, August 31, and Saturday, September 1.

They also play at the Platform, Morecambe, on September 7.