Teen plays at Big Weekend after late call for musicians

A student had a morning he will never forget after he performed live on stage with a band at Radio 1’s Big Weekend.

Trumpeter Joshua Bowman, 18, from Stopsley, Luton, replied to a last minute call out asking for musicians to play with JW Paris on the BBC Introducing Stage on Sunday.

After one hour of rehearsing, the Bedfordshire pupil took to the stage for the band’s track Favourite Thing and said it was “surreal” to see people he knew in the crowd.

JW Paris’ guitarist and vocalist, Danny Collins, 34, said they wanted to perform with a young musician from the area to “pay it forward”.

Joshua, who is a member of the Luton Youth Orchestra, has been playing the guitar, piano, saxophone and trumpet since the age of five.

Speaking to BBC News after the performance, he said playing on stage was “crazy” and a day he would always remember.

“I didn’t have butterflies or shaky knees but there was a bit of adrenaline, and it will probably kick in soon,” he added.

“I watched their performance from the side of the stage and was counting down the songs until I went on, which built up the anticipation.

“I saw someone I recognised in the crowd and it felt surreal. It was a brilliant experience.”

Collins, who has been playing with JW Paris for eight years, said it was a “full circle moment” as he used to play football in Stockwood Park and now he was playing on stage.

“BBC Introducing has supported us so much over the years and we wanted to pay it forward so we got someone from Luton Youth Orchestra to play with us," he said.

Speaking about the performance he added that it was “absolutely rammed" in the crowd and the "sun was shining”.

“Josh was far more professional than us on stage,” he said.

“It gives us hope for the future (of music).”

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email [email protected] or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830