HE knows everyone from the meanest Chicago bluesmen to members of the Royal Family.

But after playing for the Queen at the Diamond Jubilee concert, Jools Holland’s next stop is Oxfordshire.

The rhythm and blues man is headlining Poshstock, as Oxfordshire’s Cornbury Festival is known, on July 1.

The former member of Squeeze is already something of a fixture when it comes to summer festivals in the county, having played at Cornbury, Henley, Stonor Park and Cropredy.

Holland said: “The music we play – swing and ska – is full of gaiety, like a lot of folk music.

“If you put together my big band, the open air and beautiful Oxfordshire countryside, it’s a giddy mix.”

Cornbury Festivals has attracted acts of the calibre of Joe Cocker, Paul Simon and Robert Plant over the years, as well as the “Chipping Norton Set” of David Cameron, Jeremy Clarkson and Alex James in the audience.

Yet it has consistently lost money. After seven Cornbury Festivals, the business went into liquidation owing creditors almost £1.5m.

But even that was not enough to lay Cornbury to rest.

Organisers have moved the festival to Great Tew, a few miles up the road, and in two weeks’ time it will return.

The 2012 event will see James Morrison headlining on June 29 and Elvis Costello on June 30.

Holland says the disappearance would have been a terrible loss to music lovers.

He said: “I’ve played there before. It’s a great festival, with a great atmosphere and it’s well organised. It’s big enough to get world-class acts and small enough for people to enjoy them.

“The more of a mix the better.”

In tough times, for both festival organisers and bands, he believes the key is to draw on wide musical roots.

Holland certainly practices what he preaches, as his rhythm and blues orchestra contains such diverse talents as 77-year-old trombonist Rico Rodriguez, one of the first and most distinguished living ska artists; the ex-Soft Cell pop star Marc Almond and soul singer Ruby Turner.

Of course it’s not just playing at festivals that keeps Holland in the public eye.

Currently in its 40th series, his regular BBC2 show Later with Jools Holland has proved its staying power.

He said: “I have an enjoyable balance that I have managed to maintain. I’ve been privileged to have a fantastic job.

“It is the most rewarding thing, playing to give people joy.

“As you get older, you worry less about what people think of you, you play what you enjoy.

“The great thing about music is that you can communicate how you feel without using words.”