A pair of Aberdeen buskers were transported from street to stage to star alongside one of the world’s biggest pop bands.
Irish chart-toppers The Script were handing out free tickets in the Granite City for their performance at the exhibition centre on Saturday when they spotted Chris Van Der Wal and Shay Currie.
The musicians were performing on the Upper Kirkgate, in between the Bon Accord and St Nicholas centres, and had even featured one of the band’s songs in their set list.
The Dubliners, who busked themselves before finding fame and fortune, stopped to talk to them and threw some coins in their case.
Frontman Danny O’Donoghue then invited them along to the sound check before giving the pair their “life-changing” opportunity.
It was five songs into the group’s set when the two Nescol music students came on to perform The Man Who Can’t Be Moved in front of a packed AECC.
Mr Van Der Wal played the cajon, a type of percussion instrument, during the song.
He said: “It was a massive adrenaline rush, a very unique experience and to be playing with such good musicians was a very big buzz.
“I was having a great time, I was a bit nervous at first, but once we were playing I was fine.”
The spotlight was also on Mr Currie, who had to learn a new part on the guitar, which he played unaccompanied at the beginning of the song.
He added: “It was nerve-jangling having to learn it on the day and make sure I got it right.
“It was absolutely mind-blowing, the adrenaline was unreal and it was a life-changing experience that I will never forget.
“At first, I was completely overwhelmed and not really able to comprehend what was going on, but then the adrenaline kicked in and I realised I was playing in front of thousands of people.”
And the pair even got a rock star reaction when they returned to the crowd.
Mr Currie, who plays in local band Meraki, added: “We were getting a few funny looks in the crowd, then people wanted to take pictures with us.
“Even at the end of the night, we got to go backstage again and we left out the exit where the tour bus was and people were cheering us.”
