Blenheim Palace is set to host a music festival in the summer to raise £1m for soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Festival for Heroes is being organised by Forces 365, a social networking website for the Armed Forces, in conjunction with the Royal British Legion.

It is expected to attract up to 30,000 people to the palace grounds, in Woodstock. The line-up of singers and bands — announced yesterday — includes Gabrielle, Lulu, The Automatic, DJ Ironik, Blake, All Angels, Go Audio, Booty Luv, Escala and Ultrabeat.

Forces 365 chairman Michael Knowles said: “It will be an all-day concert in arguably the most stunning park in Britain.

“We particularly wanted the line-up to appeal to a young audience. The men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are in their 20s and we want people in their 20s to support what they do.”

Graham Hollis, chairman of the RBL’s Woodstock branch, said he was “all for it”, adding: “If it makes money for the Legion, it’s got to be good. All these lads coming home with these terrible injuries have got to be looked after.”

Mayor of Woodstock Peter Jay added: “I think it’s another feather in Blenheim’s cap. I’m sure it will be well organised and I hope lots of people buy tickets and take the opportunity to visit Woodstock.”

The festival is being held at the palace on Saturday, June 20 — a week prior to the country’s inaugural Armed Forces Day on June 27.

Festival director Jack Knowles, 20, who founded Forces 365, said: “Those attending will be part of history, and hopefully we can raise over £1m.”

The RBL provides care and support to members of the Armed Forces past and present and their families.

It is best known for its annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem the red poppy.

Some of the money raised will also go towards the Soldiers of Oxfordshire Trust’s £4m fundraising campaign to build a permanent home for the county’s regimental collections at the Oxfordshire Museum in Woodstock.

Blenheim Palace chief executive John Hoy said he hoped the not-for-profit concert would be a sell-out.

He said: “It’s taken time to put all the pieces in place, but we are delighted to have got to the stage where the line-up can be announced.”

  • For tickets, priced £39, visit seetickets.com or call 0871 2300010.