'This can't be real' - Shropshire singer goes from open mic nights to Glastonbury
Jessie Reid will take to the stage at Worthy Farm this weekend.
Last updated 28th Jun 2024
A Shrewsbury singer has told us about how a hopeful email led to her getting one of the biggest gigs of all - a slot at Glastonbury.
Jessie Reid is an indie-folk artist performing on the Acoustic Stage at 1pm on Saturday and 5pm on Sunday, sharing Worthy Farm with the likes of Dua Lipa, Coldplay and Shania Twain.
She said: "The Acoustic Stage has one demo spot per year for up and coming artists so I sent an email to the agent and he said 'I like your stuff, please come and play'.
"At first I thought it couldn't be real because, as an independent artist, you're so used to getting rejected, sending emails and never hearing back."
Jessie started out playing open mic events as a teenager at The Bridges pub in Ratlinghope.
She added: "I started out doing any gigs I could get, released a few songs on Spotify, which were quite successful and have over eight million streams now, and my music has featured on Love Island and Made in Chelsea."
Jessie said that with the knockout stages of the Euros planned for Sunday, her set that evening - in which she will be joined by members of Squeeze - clashes with England's match, "but apparently Glastonbury aren't showing it so come and see us instead!
"I managed to get some VIP treatment and get a lift from the car park to the campsite - I think one of the biggest traumas of Glastonbury is transporting all of your stuff so I'm over the moon."