A THREE-day music festival will mark the first anniversary of the sudden death of a popular Hampshire musician. Fiddler Robert Cob' Cook, who was 53, suffered a massive heart attack and died last June.

His former band mates from local legends The Cropdusters have reformed and will be headlining at the first ever Cobfest.

Cob's two daughters, Lucy and Rosie, have even learned to play the violin especially for the occasion and will join their father's band mates on stage.

And all the proceeds from the event will go to Wessex Heartbeat, the charity that supports the Wessex Cardiac Centre in Southampton.

Shaun Morris, The Cropdusters' vocalist who lives in Pilley in the New Forest, said: "We wanted to arrange something that would be a proper tribute to Cob. We played more than 800 shows together as The Cropdusters - it was one big party! He was one of my greatest friends.

"We have arranged an impressive line up of bands for Cobfest, ranging from indie guitar bands to cowpunk, psychedelic rock and reggae."

The Cropdusters became local legends after forming in Lymington in the early 1980s and then winning the Southampton Battle of the Bands in 1986. From then until 1994 they gigged all over the UK and Europe and won many fans for their energetic folk punk music.

After splitting in 1994, they formed the Peeping Toms and continued performing live. Cobfest will raise more than £4,500 in memory of Cob, who lived in Barton on Sea.

Terry Osborn, chief executive of Wessex Heartbeat, said: "It is remarkable that everyone wants to do something positive on what will be a sad anniversary for Cob's family and friends."

Cobfest 07 will be held at Boldre Working Men's Club in Pilley, near Lymington, on June 15, 16 and 17 from 6pm each evening. Tickets for Friday and Saturday and £10 for each night and admission on Sunday will be by donation.