LEADING Urban pop band the Rishi Rich Project will be appearing live at this year's Blackburn Mela which takes place over the weekend of July 15 and 16.

It is a major coup for Mela organisers and will see Rishi Rich perform alongside the likes of pop superstars Jay Sean, Juggy D and Veronica for the very first time in town.

The performance from the Rishi Rich's Project comes five days after the release of the band's debut album The Project.

Another surefire crowdpuller will be Jay Sean who appears in Lancashire for the very time.

Jay was signed to Relentless Records/Virgin Records in July 2003, the label responsible for hits such as Artful Dodger and Craig David's Rewind and Daniel Beddingfield's Gotta Get Thru This.

His critically acclaimed debut single Dance with You featuring Juggy D reached number 12 in the UK charts in September 2003 and paved the way for Jay's solo project released in early 2004.

Bhangra superstar Sukhshinder Shinda also makes an appearance at the Blackburn mela for the first time.

A producer, composer, arranger, singer and musician Sukshinder is one live performer who is simply a class apart.

Making a return to the Mela this year are Stereonation, an act that has achieved massive worldwide success with their fusion of Indian and English pop melodies.

Also on the bill this year are Tariq Khan of Legacy and Jinx.

And if that wasn't enough the packed mela line-up sees Blackburn's very own Ghawazee Arabic dancers, a troupe of African dancers, Dhol drum players, and a multi-ethnic bagpipe band take to the stage.

The Mela will be hoping to attract more families to this years event and holding a number of community workshops.

Blackburn community arts group, Action Factory, will be involved with the classes and workshops in preparation for their production of Robin Hood that will bring together community performers of all ages.

This year for the very first time the mela also hosts a community stage to provide a platform for local up and coming talent to showcase their work.

Blackburn Mela, Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16 at Witton Park, Blackburn, from noon to 8pm