Hopeful email led to musician's Glastonbury gig

A musician will play Glastonbury's acoustic stage this weekend after she sent a speculative email asking the agent who books acts for it if she could perform.

Jessie Reid, 29, from Shrewsbury, Shropshire, said she received a surprising reply in January to tell her she had got the gig.

She will perform on Saturday at 13:00 BST on the stage which will also host acts including Scouting for Girls and Ocean Colour Scene across the weekend.

"He messaged back and said 'yeah I love it, please do come and play - we'd love to have you' [and] I thought 'that can't be real'," said Ms Reid.

In her email, Ms Reid, who is currently studying for a PhD at the University of Leicester, attached a YouTube video of one of her performances.

"As an independent artist, you're so used to getting rejected. It was strange to firstly have a response and secondly a positive response," she told BBC Radio Shropshire.

"I'm really looking forward to just playing in a massive tent basically.

"I've got my guitar ready and I’ve got my ticket, that's the most important bits packed."

Ms Reid describes her music as indie-folk with harmonies and percussive guitar skills.

The five-day festival runs from Wednesday to Monday, with performances on the main music stages beginning on Friday.

Ms Reid will play with some band members that join her on-stage regularly.

"We've put in the upbeat numbers, it's a festival, everyone wants to be having a good time," she said.

"I'm also playing with a band called Squeeze, I'm doing a songwriters circle with them so I've been also trying to learn their songs.

"I didn't realise it would be quite so hard. Some of the chords are just so complicated, I've never heard of them!"

Ms Reid said she also hoped to make the most of her time at Glastonbury, outside of her performance.

"I've made a spreadsheet where I'm basically full up for the whole day with watching people," she said.

"When I finish my set, I'm running to see someone immediately, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do with my guitar."

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