Music legend Jools Holland is coming to Shugborough, near Stafford, as part of the tourist attraction's best ever events programme.

The music star will be performing at the estate with his 17-piece Rhythm and Blues Orchestra in July as part of an enormous picnic concert weekend. Alison Moyet and Ruby Turner will be Jools' special guests and performing with the band at the event on Sunday July 25

In addition there will be a Saturday Night Party Night with an eighties theme on the previous evening and the concert organisers are in the process of securing a big name line-up of 1980s stars. Both evenings will feature magnificent firework finales.

Shugborough Group Manager Liz Carruthers said: "We are over the moon that Jools Holland is coming to the estate and the fact we can attract such big name acts, shows we are a premier event venue within the region."

The weekend is just part of the estate's big 2010 events line-up which includes a repeat of last year's sell out Outdoor Picnic Movies as well as the popular Game Fair in February - an event that attracted over 7,000 visitors last year.

New for 2010, is a Wings, Wheels, Speed, Steam and Horsepower event in June with promises of 1,000 display vehicles and 60 horses along with aerobatic displays from Captain Neville's Vintage Flying Circus.

For three days in July, a new Garden and Home Lovers event will include gardeners question times, an interiors marquee, displays and plant sales from nurseries as well as outdoor living stands and sow it, grow it, eat it activities.

In August there will be a day of motoring nostalgia as the Classic Car and Transport Show returns to Shugborough after nine years.  Hundreds of vehicles dating back to the 1920's including vintage, classic and sports cars will be on display.

The new September Country Show will feature an arena full of acts, children's entertainment and rural demonstrations along with an exciting range of arts, crafts and gift marquees.

In October there will be a re-developed three day Gifts for Christmas and Live Crafts Fair, followed by the ever-popular Halloween, Bonfire Night, Candlelit Christmas Evenings and Santa at the Farm events.

Liz said: "We are really very excited about the 2010 season. We've matched a perfect programme of large headline events with a fun programme of day-to-day activities and highlights throughout the year.

"We had a super season in 2009 and we are hoping to increase visitors to Staffordshire's jewel in the crown again in 2010."

In addition to the 2010 large scale events, the estate has also unveiled a packed programme of activity weekends and highlights including a spring cleaning weekend, a packed Easter and Bank Holiday programme, teddy bear's picnics and a Jams and Pickles Weekend.