KENDAL businessman Charles Scott is helping lead the fight to keep live music thriving in Cumbria.

Mr Scott, a director of insurance broker Macbeth Scott & Co, has agreed a three-year sponsorship deal with the popular Carlisle Blues Rock Festival.

The festival will now go ahead in October 2020, after organisers had announced its closure after this year’s event.

Born and bred in Kendal, Mr Scott supports a number of music events both locally and across the county.

“Sponsorship of music events is something we have built up over the years. Music is an important part of most people’s lives, although they don’t necessarily realise it.”

Events and venues Mr Scott has supported include Bootleggers in Kendal, Rock on Windermere, gigs by Status Quo, Bowness Bay Blues and the Aspatria music festival.

“Our view is that we are in the community and we want to support the community and give a little back. It is very rewarding,” he added.

And Mr Scott, who attending St Bees School near Whitehaven, revealed that on a personal level his music taste is ‘quite eclectic’.

“I will listen to anything. I enjoy classic rock, and I have even found myself gettting into jazz.”

Putting on a music event? Share it by emailing paul.williamson@newsquest.co.uk