THE Darwen Live music festival over May Bank Holiday weekend will have a cosmopolitan feel this year after organisers received almost £5,000 to create a world music venue.

The popular event is expected once again to attract thousands of people to the town centre.

But organisers Darwen Music Projects hope to attract a whole new audience with world music activities planned for the Tower Room, at Darwen Leisure Centre.

Benn Robinson, of Darwen Music Projects, said: "We are very excited about bringing these acts and events to Darwen.

"We hope that by offering an alternative to mainstream music, we will be able to open areas of music and culture to the local people that they would not usually encounter.

"This portion of the music festival will bring a real multi-cultural element to the event."

The group recently received a grant for £4,900 from Awards for All, the Lottery grants scheme aimed at improving communities.

Planned activities at the Tower Room include food and fashion workshops, Zimbabwe Dance and Percussion workshops and Latin Rhythm workshops.

Bands appearing at the new venue will include Safroman (African Soukous guitar-based dance music); The Full Zimbabwe; Baghdaddies (Eastern European Gypsy music); and Hohodza (Zimbabwean guitar- based dance music).

There will also be several fringe venues throughout the town.

Headliners will be Ian Dury's former backers, The Blockheads, 1960s folk legend Julie Felix, Neville Staple from The Specials and Deborah Bonham, younger sister of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham.

Local band Cherrybomb will take to the stage on Sunday and Monday and festival regulars Gone Beggin' will perform on Monday.

Darwen Live music festival will take place on Sunday and Monday, May 28 and 29, from 1pm to 2am across seven stages in the town centre.