MORE than 60,000 music fans are expected to descend on Eastleigh throughout the next ten days as the town stages the biggest live music festival in Hampshire this year.

Former Rolling Stone Bill Wyman and his Rhythm Kings will be headlining the opening night concert on Friday at Fleming Park.

Thousands of people from across Britain and Europe are expected to attend the ten-day musical blockbuster, which features a host of top international stars performing in a 1,000-capacity circus Big Top and open air arena.

This is the second year of the festival and it was such a huge hit that attendance figures are already set to soar past last year's figure of about 40,000.

The star-studded bill includes Pop Idol-winner Will Young, legendary American singer Dionne Warwick, TV Songs of Praise presenter Aled Jones, Leo Sayer, Judie Tzuke and Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Live Aid co-founder Midge Ure and Pogues vocalist Shane MacGowan.

The festival, which runs until Sunday, August 1, will be rounded off in rip-roaring style by legendary Australian entertainer Rolf Harris. He was so delighted with the response that he got from the Eastleigh audience in 2003 that he asked to come back.

His appearance last year coincided with his 50th anniversary in showbiz.

The top-of-the-bill entertainers will be joined by artists from Australia, America, Belgium, Spain, India and Africa plus more than two dozen bands from around Britain.

Festival organiser Peter Chegwyn says people are travelling from all over Britain and Europe for the big festival.

So far ticket sales are going strong but there are still places available for every event.

Tickets for the Bill Wyman & The Rhythm Kings are £25 and to see Will Young on Saturday, July 24 fans will pay £32.50.

Dionne Warwick takes to the stage on Thursday, July 29 and tickets cost £30.

To see Rolf Harris on Sunday, August 1 it will cost £20.

Tickets are on sale from the ticket hotline on 0870 0600 100, the Mayflower box office, Southampton on 023 8071 1818 or The Point, Eastleigh, on 023 8065 2333 and The Brook pub in Portswood on 023 8055 5366.