A Nottingham musician has been selected to help open the Coronation Concert alongside one of the UK's best-known DJs. Gideon Akpovi, who's known on stage as Jerub, will take to the stage on Sunday, May 7, alongside DJ Pete Tong and singer Vula Malinga in a spectacle at Windsor Castle set to be viewed by millions around the world.
Jerub, who has been singing since the age of 11, was told the exciting news that he would duet with Vula alongside Pete Tong and his Ibiza Classics orchestra the same day he had one of his songs played on Radio One. The singer is now set to join a star-studded list of celebrities set to host and perform at the event, including Take That, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Olly Murs.
The 24-year-old said: "I was already on a high until I got the call then the high went through the roof... I'm feeling really really excited [for Sunday], I'm also feeling the weight of the moment.
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"It's a historical momentous event that comes once in many people's lifetimes, so I'm really honoured for the opportunity to be singing, to be opening the show."
Jerub moved to the Aspley area from Nigeria when he was 10 years old. Around the age of 11, he decided to follow in his brother's footsteps and join a choir. Four years later, he picked up a guitar, and by the age of 19, Jerub had started writing his own songs.
The now Nottingham-based musician also spent his years early years studying in local schools and attending Bluecoat Wollaton Academy and Bilborough Sixth Form College. Jerub got his first break in 2019 after he sent his first single to BBC Introducing.
"I sent it to Dean Jackson, who has hosted the show for so long, and he just loved it straight away and he's been a fan ever since," he said. Jerub took to Instagram to share the news about his first TV performance with those who follow his music. In a post, he said: "So it’s still sinking in that I’ll be joining Pete Tong and Vula Malinga in performing at the Coronation Concert next weekend. Really looking forward to it. Such an honour to be involved especially with so many other incredible artists."
Friends and family shared their reactions.
Keziah Akpovi said: "They had to get the best." Beckie Thompson added: "Seriously incredible, Well deserved, Can’t wait to watch it."
Micaela Beth Witherden wrote: "I'm sorry what! Royalty levels (literally). Speaking on the future of his music career, Jerub added: "I've been working on a lot of music over the past year and half, two years, I'm going to be releasing an EP on May 26 this year called 'finding my feet'.
"I'm really excited to release it. It's kind of funny the way Coronation is happening because how I'm feeling about it all is sort of what the EP is about, which is just finding self-assurance and finding my feet in the past few months and that's kind of how I'm approaching the Coronation as well.
Jerub will also be taking the stage at Nottingham's Dot to Dot Festival taking place on May 28. The Coronation Concert will take place on Sunday, May 7 at 8pm on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.
The Mirror reports that inside the grounds of Windsor Castle will be a huge Union Jack stage with platforms that fan out into the crowd and a halo-like screen surrounding the roof.
A number of Nottinghamshire venues are also showing the concert, including Nottingham Castle.
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