Local Vulfpeck fan gets to play on stage with his idols
AROUND 5,000 people watched 16-year-old Guernseyman Charlie Stevens make a surprise appearance on stage at the O2 Academy Brixton.
Called up from the crowd by his music idols Vulfpeck, Charlie joined them on stage for one of their songs, Dean Town.
Charlie, his girlfriend, and a friend from their local band Isle Stone, were lining up early outside the arena where the American funk group were to perform.
While they were waiting in line, bass player Joe Dart walked past and said ‘hey’ to Charlie and his friends.
‘We just stood there a bit star-struck and then ran after him to take some pictures,’ said Charlie.
As some of the only people in line as it was so early, the group were moved to the O2 priority line and were able to get right to the front barrier to watch the whole set.
‘I had a Guernsey flag which had “Can I play Dean Town on guitar with you?” written on it that me and my friend hung over the barrier.
It was one of the songs Charlie and his band had played at the Vale Earth Fair this year.
Towards the end of the set Theo [Katzman, guitarist] jumped down and said to me, “Can you do this?” and I said “I think so”, and he said “No, seriously can you do this?” so I said, “Yes!”,’ said Charlie.
He then followed Mr Katzman over the barrier and onto the stage, took the guitarist’s instrument, briefly met the other band members and soon enough was playing Dean Town on stage to 5,000 people with his favourite band.
Having learned to play the guitar only three years earlier, Charlie said: ‘Surprisingly I wasn’t nervous on stage, I was just concentrating on not messing up in front of my idols.’
He said he could hear his friend screaming his name from the crowd and when he returned to his space in the crowd lots of people congratulated him and took pictures with him.
‘It was the first proper concert I’ve ever been to and it was definitely the best musical weekend of my life,’ he said.
At Gatwick, as the group of friends were heading back home to Guernsey, Charlie saw the guitarist again.
He recognised him and they spoke for a while.
He said: ‘A couple of the other band members also messaged me on social media saying “We should do it again”, so I told them we definitely could if they come to Guernsey.’
Vulfpeck were founded in 2011.
