Midland college students shared a stage with Brit music stars Blur, Snow Patrol, The Stereophonics and Duran Duran. Seven of Stratford-Upon-Avon College’s extended diploma in music class were picked to perform at the BT London Live event in Hyde Park.

The event, part of the London 2012 Games closing celebrations, saw the students create their own band Strange Days as part of a project in tribute to American band The Doors.

They had been chosen from hundreds of bands from across the county by promoters Live Nation after they handed in a demo produced by music technology students using the college recording studio.

Singer Ben Paveley (above, middle) was also “spotted” by Pete Webber, from Live Nation artistic development team — and got to do an extra set of his own acoustic compositions.

The college’s programme area co-ordinator for music, James Maiden, said: “This has been a fantastic experience for the students and an honour for them to be a part of a once-in-a-lifetime event linked to the Olympics.”

Stratford College offers music and music technology provision at level two, level three and a new HND in music and a HNC in music business and management.