'Dream' for artist to support Anne-Marie and Olly Murs

An artist used to playing small venues has said it is "proper dream material" to be supporting Anne-Marie and Olly Murs at three unique outdoor events.

Devon, who is from the Forest of Dean, in Gloucestershire, will perform his final Forest Live show on Friday with Anne-Marie at Westonbirt Arboretum.

The series hosts music events in natural woodland areas as a way to "connect with nature".

"It is absolutely crazy," said Devon, adding he was "extremely grateful" for the opportunity.

The alt-pop singer/songwriter supported Olly Murs at Thetford Forest in Norfolk on 30 June and Anne-Marie at Sherwood Pines in Nottinghamshire on 22 June.

"[It] was proper dream material to be able to experience what shows that size are like," he said.

"I feel like I've always designed the live show and writing songs with a big show like that in mind, so when it came to it, it just felt natural and I didn't feel swallowed by the stage."

In a biography of the singer on the event website it says: "Devon went from singing Johnny Cash covers at the local pub to landing prime spots on taste-making playlists including Spotify’s All New Indie and Apple Music’s New in Pop."

Devon added: "Even if we were playing small, tiny pubs... [playing big shows] was always the goal."

He will open the stage on Friday at Westonbirt, followed by Londoner Georgia Barnes, then Anne-Marie.

"I'm extremely grateful and it is absolutely crazy," said Devon.

"I've thought about this my whole life."

Also performing as part of Forest Live at Westonbirt Arboretum are The Corrs, Van Morrison, Nile Rogers and CHIC. Gregory Porter played on Thursday.

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