JOOLS Holland OBE, one of the biggest names in British music, is bringing his famous Rhythm & Blues Orchestra to Pembroke Castle next summer to headline a terrific weekend of music, the Western Telegraph can reveal.

Jools is on our TV screens every week as host of BBC2’s Later, and his live performances are legendary, so his Pembroke appearance on July 17 in one of Wales’ most famous ancient monuments will be a much anticipated highlight of the summer.

Jools co-formed the hit band Squeeze with Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook, before his own Big Band to indulge his love of that kind of music, and now has a 20-piece Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, which consists of pianist, organist, drummer, three female vocals, guitar, bass guitar, two tenor saxophones, two alto saxophones, baritone saxophone, three trumpets, and four trombones.

Jools has performed with the world’s greatest musicians over the years, and made numerous programmes for radio and TV, including his annual New Year’s Eve Hootenanny.

Pembroke Castle Manager Jon Williams said: “We are really excited about bringing Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra to Pembroke Castle, giving local people in the west Wales area a concert of such high quality. The venue has a unique atmosphere for this kind of event and you won’t find a more stunning backdrop than these ancient walls.

“Having had such an amazing reaction to previous concerts we’ve staged, I’m sure that people will travel from far and wide to spend their weekend in beautiful Pembrokeshire to enjoy a unique setting for Jools’ performance.”

To make a real weekend of it, Revival™ /The Tribute to ABBA will play the castle on the Friday evening, July 15, giving local ABBA fans a great evening of timeless tunes from the designated Official #1 Abba Tribute Show.

The castle has hosted sell-out concerts by Only Men Aloud, The Counterfeit Stones, Killer Queen and various Proms events in recent years.

The weekend concerts are being promoted by Cardiff-based Orchard Entertainment, winner of the Regional Music Promoter of the Year in the UK Live Music Business Awards, in association with Pembroke Castle.

Tickets, which go on sale this Friday, November 20, at 10am, are available from the following outlets: www.pembrokecastle.co.uk www.ticketmaster.co.uk; www.orchardentertainment.co.uk www.torchtheatre.co.uk; box office 01646 695 267; and in person from Pembroke Castle shop; Dales Music Tenby, and Milford Haven Torch Theatre.