WHAT'S the music festival that has attracted stars of the calibre of Maggie Bell, Skerryvore, Capercaillie, Rachel Sermanni, Justin Currie, James Grant, Eddie Reader and Muddy Waters' son, Mud Morganfield?

The answer is the Darvel music festival - and it's back for more next month, including one show by a band featuring a former member of the multi-million-selling Dire Straits.

The other star names at Darvel 2015 include Paul Carrack and ace US guitarist Larry Carlton.

The 14th festival showcases no fewer than six concerts between May 1 and July 10, bringing further attention to the small but thriving Ayrshire town.

The first weekend includes three rock/blues concerts, starting on Friday, May 1, when the US Grammy-nominated blues, roots and gospel-flavoured Heritage Blues Quintet will be supported by the Jo Harman band.

On the Saturday, music fans will get the chance to enjoy the British Blues All Stars, whose members include ex-Dire Strait, Pick Withers, Dave Kelly of the Blues Band and veteran bluesman Zoot Money.

Money's music career stretches back to the dawn of the 1960s - and he has worked with everyone from Alexis Corner to Eric Burdon.

Supporting them will be by the raw R&B blues act, TC and the Moneymakers.

The weekend ends on a high on the Sunday night with a Scottish exclusive show from US country rock/blues guitarist David Grissom.

Grissom has toured and played with John Mellencamp, The Allman Brothers, The Dixie Chicks and Joe Ely.

He will perform with his full band, with support from London-based blues/roots artist Sean Taylor.

The festival takes a break until June 19, with a not-to-be-missed show starring Hamilton Loomis and the Larry McCray Band, two of America's exponents of blues/soul and rhythm and blues.]

On June 20 it's the turn of guitar maestro Larry Carlton, alongside his Quartet.

Carlton is one of the true giants of jazz guitar.. He was for years part of The Crusaders, and he appeared on such acclaimed albums as Joni Mitchell's Court and Spark Donald Fagen's Nightfly and Steely Dan's The Royal Scam.

His studio credits also include Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr., Herb Alpert, Quincy Jones, Bobby Bland, Dolly Parton and Linda Ronstadt.

Supporting Carlton will be Scots-born Nigel Clark, who has been associated with Hue & Cry, Moya Brennan, Carol Kidd and Gloria Gaynor.

Festival producer Neil McKenna said yesterday: "We're delighted to have such an illustrious figure as Larry back in Darvel.

"This is only his second appearance in Scotland in the past 35 years and both exclusive concerts have taken place here. We're honoured."

The 2015 festival finishes on July 10, when the acclaimed soul/pop and rock vocalist Paul Carrack performs with his eight-piece band and will be supported by soul/blues outfit Lights out by Nine and 80's pop heart throb Owen Paul.

Carrack has made many famous recordings, including How Long, by Ace, Mike & the Mechanics' The Living Years, Silent Running, and Over my Shoulder, and Tempted, by Squeeze.

Festival Director Sheila McKenna said: "We are delighted with the fantastic range of artists we have booked for Darvel.

"It's testimony to all the hard work of our committee and volunteers that such distinguished performers want to play here, many of whom will be only performing at the Festival and nowhere else in Scotland.

"The whole event is 'Up Close and Personal' - we have a friendly and intimate venue and provide the highest quality sound and lighting equipment, which is appreciated by all of the acts."

Husband Neil added: "We would like to thank East Ayrshire Council for their Renewable Energy Fund grant towards the May and June shows and to all our other sponsors.

"As a community-led initiative we do all our work for free and everything we do is to assist with the regeneration of our town and local area.

"We therefore rely heavily on sponsorship so if any company or business would like to support us with a one-off donation or set up a monthly standing order then please contact Sheila at darvelmusic@gmail.com. Music fans can also help us by purchasing their tickets early to help our cash flow, and to consider becoming a music patron."

* Tickets are on sale at Tickets Scotland, Glasgow; JH Donald, Kilmarnock; Anna's Gift Store, Darvel, and through the website at www.darvelmusicfestival.org

has been unveiled and once again it will be eagerly anticipated with six fantastic concerts (four of which are Scottish exclusives and one UK exclusive concert) on offer between the 1st of May and the 10th of July at Darvel Town Hall. The event has transformed the former lace and weaving town since 2002 and has constantly raised the bar year on year by attracting top International and National artists. Over 260 acts have now appeared at the Festival and as well as attracting hundreds of music fans from all over Scotland, the rest of the United Kingdom and beyond, it has all also been cited as a great example of how a volunteer based, community-led initiative can assist with the social and economic regeneration of Darvel.