YOU could be forgiven for thinking that Jools Holland is part of the furniture at the Larmer Tree Festival. In fact the legendary musician has played there so many times he’s lost track.

“It’s just lovely, of any festival it is the loveliest,” says Jools, explaining why he keeps returning to the Larmer Tree.

“There’s something quite special about it. The setting is fantastic.”

Eventually he runs out of superlatives and the conversation turns to his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra (aka the Big Band), which will headline the festival for the 21st time on Wednesday.

“The Big Band started I think in ’86 and it was originally just myself and Gilson Lavis, who of course was the drummer in Squeeze,” explains Jools.

“I used to come on stage and say ‘ladies and gentleman please welcome my big band’ and just Gilson would walk on.

“Then we added a bass player and a guitar player and then the joke of it being a big band wasn’t so funny anymore.”

Suffice to say that Jools’ Big Band has come a long way since it was formed in the eighties; in fact there are now more people in the band than there are in some of Dorset’s hamlets.

“I think we’re probably full now,” laughs Jools.

However they can always make exceptions and have done on their latest tour, which welcomes a special guest in the form of Sandie Shaw.

The legendary British singer is one of many big names that Jools has collaborated with over the years – he has also worked with Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, George Harrison and Bono.

Does he ever get star struck working with such music heavyweights?

“Sometimes when you work with people who are of an older generation – the people who you admired from when you first started listening to music – they are a bit more awe-inspiring,” he says.

“But once you start playing with them all that goes and you are just serving the one God, which is the music.”

However, there are times when he can’t quite believe his luck.

“We’ve got Sandie Shaw on tour with us at the moment and one of my favourite songs was There’s Always Something There To Remind Me, which back in the day was her big hit,” he explains.

“And when we do that rhythm I still think I can’t believe I’m playing this here with her – it’s a treat.”

He’s also full of praise for contemporary female musicians like Adele and Amy Winehouse, although he empathises with young artists who are finding it much tougher to succeed than when he burst onto the scene with Squeeze in the seventies.

“It’s hard,” he says.

“People don’t buy records anymore so the real money is in touring live and unless you’re a name nobody wants to book you.

“There aren’t lots of small venues like there were either.”

However, he agrees that the cream will eventually rise to the top, providing you’re passionate enough.

“The thing is you’ve got to love the music – play what you love and love what you play,” is his advice to the musicians of tomorrow.

“There’s always some new beautiful noise waiting to be heard.”

Jovial and with infectious enthusiasm for music, Jools is an easy subject to interview – he doesn’t make me fish too hard for information and talks lucidly.

I ask him about his time in Squeeze and whether he was tempted to join the others when they reformed in 2007.

“I loved what we did and I loved them,” he says.

“I think the world of them and I look back with great fondness at what we did, but I feel that we have done that and I’m too busy making my own music.”

With a music career spanning five decades and a television show spanning three decades (Later… with Jools Holland), doesn’t he ever get tired of music?

“The more you look at it the more you see and the more you think you know the more mysterious it becomes,” he says.

“There’s always something new coming up; it’s like nature, constantly evolving.”

As well as appearing at the Larmer Tree Festival this month, Jools and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra will be playing at Sherborne Castle on July 23.

Anyone would have thought the Londoner has a bit of a soft spot for Dorset.

“I have great affection for that part of the world,” he says.

“Squeeze’s first manager lived in Bounemouth so we used to stay there a lot.

“I’ve still got some dear friends down there and I always go to Chez Fred for my fish and chips.”

Fans can see Jools Holland and his 18-piece band at the Larmer Tree Festival on July 13 or Sherborne Castle on July 23. Failing that, you might catch him at the Westbourne chippy.