Boy, 16, lands dream gig opening for The Libertines

A 16-year-old rising star found out he landed a dream gig as one of the support acts for indie rock band The Libertines on the same day he received his GCSE results.

Kit Bottomley, a singer-songwriter from Knebworth, Hertfordshire, will perform a mix of poetic lyrics, indie rock and looping guitar when he opens the show at Hitchin Live on Saturday.

The Libertines, led by frontmen Carl Barat and Pete Doherty, are among the headliners at the bank holiday weekend open-air festival, which is expected to attract about 40,000 people.

"To go from opening my GCSE results to discovering I'm opening for The Libertines is completely surreal," said Bottomley.

"Pete and Carl's music is everything and helped shape how I write, so sharing a stage and hanging with the band is a proper 'pinch me' moment.

"I'm ready to bring the energy and joy."

The Libertines were formed in London in 1997 by Barat and Doherty and became one of the defining bands of the early 2000s indie scene.

They will also be supported by British indie rock bands Maxïmo Park, Reverend and the Makers, Mystery Jets and The Ramona Flowers.

Though still a teenager, the Hitchin Boys' School pupil has been attracting attention for his musical ability for several years.

Alongside his vocals, Bottomley uses an acoustic guitar, loop pedal and sound effects.

As a 14-year-old, he performed on stage with 1980s star Nik Kershaw in Up Yours Cancer! at the Corn Exchange in Hertford last year.

The concert was organised by the schoolboy's music teacher Steve Young, who had undergone pioneering treatment for skin cancer.

The BRIT School has also recognised Bottomley's talent and offered him a place.

Past pupils at the secondary in Selhurst, South London, include superstars Adele, Amy Winehouse and Olivia Dean.

Before he starts in September, Bottomley is busy in the studio working on his debut four-track EP.

He is collaborating with writer-producer John Fortis, who has worked with artists including Ellie Goulding, The Prodigy and Razorlight.

Kit is also due to spend several days working on The Story of Quadrophenia for film director Sadie Frost and producer Simon Jones's new production company.

The documentary explores the cultural impact of The Who's seminal 1973 album Quadrophenia.

And he is soon to finish working on Everything, a new film by award-winning director Joseph Dewey, in which he stars and performs some of the soundtrack.

The Hitchin Live at The Priory festival will be held in the town across four days over the bank holiday weekend.

Other headliners include The Human League, Rudimental and Ministry of Sound Classical.

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