KNUTSFORD Music Festival has won praise from blues performers Mat Walklate and Tom Attah, who say being booked for the festival is the highlight of their career.

The festival returns for its second year from June 22 to 24, and will see more than 40 events take place at venues around the town centre, including churches, shops, pubs and restaurants.

Mat and Tom perform at Brook Street Club with Ashley Sherlock and The Gritstone Clays on Friday, June 22 at 7pm.

They were inspired to become musicians by hearing blues musicians like Sonny Boy Williamson and Muddy Water when they were teenagers.

Mat said: “Knutsford is a lovely town, and we’re looking forward to night of rockin’ blues. We play authentic, heartfelt blues, and each performance is full of spontaneity and passion.”

Knutsford-based Fine Lines are looking forward to performing to a home crowd, although they are excited about playing to new people as well who are not aware of them.

They perform at The Courthouse with Miles Hunt and Sam Lyon on Saturday, June 23 at 7pm.

David Boardman said: “We’re also very much looking forward to playing with Miles Hunt, and The Courthouse looks like a great venue.

“We put on a great show, the songs are really strong, and even though this will be a stripped-down acoustic show we will still deliver 100 per cent.”

Father and son duo Modjango – Paul and Roy Gregory, are appearing at Lost and Found on Saturday, June 23, 12.30pm to 1.15pm and 1.45pm to 2.30pm.

Paul said: “Knutsford is a beautiful, historic place, and it’s always great to play new events in beautiful parts of the world.

“We offer a fresh approach to gypsy jazz guitar, and throw every style into the set – our name stands for Modern Django, after the late, great Django Reinhardt.”

The Moor stage is the setting on Saturday, June 23, between 2.30pm and 4.30pm for a performance by The Howling Rev.

“The festival is a great opportunity to appear at a new event I’ve never played,” he said.

“The organisers have put together an exciting platform of music and artists. I’ve been playing since my teens, and sessioned as live guitarist with The Prodigy for three years during their greatest hits tour.”

The Moor also sees Drumroots, a drop-in workshop for anyone who wants a go on Saturday, June 23, from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.

Jamie Riley said: “We love to play at festivals as there is always an amazing vibe, and we’re looking forward to getting everyone playing the drums along with us.

“Our African drumming workshops are really uplifting, entertaining and inclusive, regardless of age and ability.”

Abigail Chetham, 17, from Knutsford, performs on the Moor stage on Saturday, June 23, from 2.30pm and 4.30pm.

“Anyone who likes poetic, acoustic folk music should definitely come down,” she said.

“I’ve been singing my whole life, and started playing guitar and songwriting when I was seven.”

Knutsford Market Hall welcomes Dave Vaughan on Saturday, June 23 from 1pm for an unplugged folk event.

Dave cut his teeth at Northwich Folk Club, and was encouraged by his niece to sing unaccompanied.

“I still remember the wounderful feeling of having a whole room singing the chorus back at me,” he said.

Sam Lyon, 23, from Winsford, has performed a few times in Knutsford, and is looking forward to playing to new people.

“Everyone comes together in a big community to support the live music, and it’s great to see,” she said.

“I write my own music, and try to tell stories people can relate their own experiences to. I love playing small, intimate acoustic shows, and I’d say I’m somewhere between Eva Cassidy, Joni Mitchell and Taylor Swift.”

Lucas Marks is performing with Pilgrims’ Way at Knutsford Little Theatre on Friday, June 22 at 7.30pm. His band, The Glorious Unknown, come from Northwich and Hartford.

“Playing at the festival will be special for me, and I look forward to seeing familiar faces in my home town as well as some new ones,” he said.

“We will perform a mix of slow and delicate music with other more barnstorming numbers, and hope to see everyone there.”

Sunday, June 24 will see Chris Howarth perform at Dexter and Jones at 4pm.

“I played last year and really enjoyed it, and I write and perform original material which people might not have heard before, and will hopefully enjoy,” he said.