RESCUED from the brink, one of the Lake District's most popular music festivals has a triumphant return next month.

With announcements last year that the Keswick Jazz Festival was to be no more, the now-renamed Keswick Jazz and Blues Festival is a hugely welcome sight on the calendar.

Venues across the town will play host to international stars of both genres, as the event begins a new era in its 26th year.

Getting under way on Thursday May 11, the four-day festival's opening day features headline names, such as Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra, Andy Dickens, John Maddocks, and Three Bears, with Keswick School Jazz Orchestra, Enrico's All Stars, and Westside Syncopators among the other performances taking place.

The leading names listed for the Friday are the TJ Johnson Band, Vitality Three, and Baby Jools and the Jazzaholics, with Saturday's huge programme including the likes of Dorine de Wit, Kevin Grenfell's Jazz Giants, and Reeds United.

The final Sunday schedule sees festival regulars Jamie Brownfield Quartet, Jeff Barnhart and Sean Moyses play a lunchtime show, with the Remi Harris Band, Mumbo-Jumbo, and Stomp Off, Let's Go all headlining across the various venues to close the event.

The venues, all in Keswick, are within walking distance of each other, including the Alhambra Cinema, Skiddaw Hotel, Masonic Hall, Conservative Club and Keswick Methodist Church.

The festival originally began as a celebration of the best of traditional jazz, and since then it has evolved to include swing, jive, boogie, New Orleans, gipsy jazz, 20s jazz and more.

This new festival is a continuation of this evolution.

As well as a line-up of top class bands and musicians, there will be dance classes, a New Orleans style parade, free events and jam sessions.

For a full schedule, visit www.keswickjazzandbluesfestival.co.uk

Tickets can be bought by phoning 01729 825 493.