THE dates and headliners for the 2017 Bowness Bay Blues Weekend have been announced, with earlybird tickets now on sale.

The three-day festival returns for a sixth year, from Friday April 7 to Sunday April 9, and will see the leading names in blues perform at venues across Bowness and Windermere once again.

Now firmly established among the UK's blues festival circuit, the event has attracted highly-rated acts from across the country as well as some US-based stars and a handful of European names.

This time around, the opening night will feature double headliners, with long-running North West mainstays The Stumble, and Australian roots singer-songwriter Geoff Achison, along with his band UK Souldiggers, sharing top billing.

The Saturday will see an appearance from Americana-influenced Brit band LaVendore Rogue, with 1950s throwbacks The Revolutionaires confirmed for the Sunday.

Also appearing will be the Ash Wilson Band, Benjamin Bassford, Catfish, Dean Newton, Elderly Brothers, Matt Woosey, Robin Bibi Band, Rucksacks, Samantha Holden Band, Scarlett, Setting Suns, South Quay, and Troubadour, with more acts still to be confirmed.

Earlybird weekend tickets are on sale now and available until December 31, 2016.

Tickets can be booked via Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre box office or www.trybooking.com