WHEN Mike d'Abo takes to the stage at the Gillingham Festival tonight, he will have more than his performance to concentrate on.

The man behind huge 1960s hits including My Name is Jack, Ragamuffin Man and the chart-topping Mighty Quinn is taking part in the two-week event with his band, The Manfreds.

But as July gets under way, he will have other things on his mind.

"I'm about to become a father again," beams the 63-year-old singer and songwriter. "My lovely third wife is expecting twins in the middle of July and it's really terribly exciting.

"It is something that Lisa and I have wanted for a long time and it has taken a few years to happen, but I am very excited at the prospect of fatherhood again. It's an exciting new chapter."

Mike, who is already father to three children aged between 40 and 23, continues: "At the moment we are getting ready to create a nursery from what has been a home not really used to the patter of tiny feet. We want to be all prepared for when the babies - a boy and girl - pop out. I want to be a better father this time round."

It is a blissful taste of domesticity for the man who has been influential in the UK music scene since he joined the chart-topping Manfred Mann in 1966 as a replacement for Paul Jones, who was going solo.

From there he went on to write Handbags and Gladrags for Chris Farlowe - which was later covered by Rod Stewart and The Stereophonics - and Manfred Mann became chart regulars with him at the helm.

"We didn't really think it would last," he says. "But then you never do. Even John Lennon said he didn't think it was likely that he would get past the age of 30 - and when we were starting out, 30 seemed ever so old.

"But now look at us! Paul Jones is, I think, the fittest 65-year-old I know and I'm not doing too badly either. I think that if you seek perfection and keep on trying, then there's no reason why you shouldn't go on.

"I keep working and when I'm not with the Manfreds I love playing a bar room piano and I have my own function band for weddings and whatnot."

Despite heading for pensionable age, Mike still keeps busy writing songs and hoping for another hit'.

"My main business is songwriting and it always has been," he says. "Every morning I wake up and think I might have another hit song in me and I keep on going. They just come out. Most of them are about love and the different aspects of love but others are about universal themes, about not giving up until the final toss of the dice."

The Manfreds are coming to Gillingham as part of this year's festival, which promises to provide two weeks of music and fantastic events.

It runs from Saturday, June 30 to Sunday, July 15, and attractions include a family sports day, open gardens, music from ex-Strawbs man Brian Willoughby and a performance by Miracle Theatre.

There will also be an 'international barbecue cook-off', classical music from Rosemary Tuck, a charity quiz night, a food and craft weekend, more music from Richard Digance, Kenny Ball and Gerard Kenny, local walks and a flower festival.

"We are so looking forward to coming to Gillingham," says Mike. "The festival sounds lovely, like a bit of the old Britain.

"At this time of year it's nice to be reminded of the traditional side of life, like the village fetes. That side of things will be lost of we are not careful."

For full details about Gillingham Festival call 01747 853514 or log on to the website at www.gillinghamfestival.org.uk