KENDAL businessman Charles Scott is organising a music festival to raise vital funds for a football club – and he’s succeeded in getting Jools Holland to headline the event.

Mr Scott, of insurance company Macbeth Scott and Co, is well known in the region for his support for music events and venues.

In December he agreed a three-year sponsorship deal with the popular Carlisle Blues Rock Festival, and has also supported Bootleggers in Kendal, Rock on Windermere, Bowness Bay Blues and the Aspatria music festival.

And now, after a visit to Morecambe FC and being impressed by the club, he is organising a three-day festival in June to raise money for them.

“I went to a match - they were playing Macclesfield in a relegation fight. The weather was appalling but they won 2-0,” said Mr Scott.

“After that we decided to support Morecambe Football Club. It is their centenary this year - they are 100 years old. They wanted to diversify, football is not enough these days on its own, so we are supporting them and we are going to do a mini festival.”

The festival, being held at Morecambe FC, will start on Friday, June 12, with Jools Holland headlining.

On the Saturday Pigeon Detectives and Massive Wagons will headline with support bands, and the Sunday will be a tribute day with acts paying tribute to Fleetwood Mac, Queen, David Bowie and Abba. The England Euro football match against Croatia will be streamed live at the ground at 2pm on the Sunday.

“I have wanted to book Jools Holland for about five years now. I was first approached by Kendal BID who wanted to put something on, but the plan fell through. The seed was sown from that point of view,” said Mr Scott.

“I wanted something with a broad range of appeal. He plays all sorts of music. I thought it was perhaps more appealing than someone who was just rock or jazz. I would have preferred him to close the festival on the Sunday but the dates weren’t good so he is opening it instead. I am hoping he will get it off to a flying start.”

He added: “When I went to Morecambe, I was expecting pigeons and flat caps and little else. They are warm, friendly people.”

The festival will also celebrate 100 years of football at Morecambe FC and funds raised will support local charities including St John’s Hospice.

The PA is being provided by California-based Mode Audio, and was recently used by Dire Straits. This will be their first European gig.

Tickets are on sale via Morecambe FC and from Ticketline.