Mini Band becomes overnight internet sensation
More than 800,000 people have viewed the Thatcham band's Metallica cover from Bucklebury Beer Festival
A THATCHAM-based child band have become international superstars virtually overnight as a clip of them playing at Bucklebury Beer Festival on Saturday has been picked up by music fans across the globe.
Mini Band members include Harry Jackson, Zoe Thomson, Kieran Fell and Harrison Read, all aged eight, and 10-year-olds Charlie Emmons and Archie Zolotuhin.
The clip, posted on internet video site YouTube, shows them playing a cover version of Enter Sandman, by Metallica.
It was first posted on the website on Monday night and 5,000 people clicked to say they ‘liked' it on that day.
The number of people watching the video has continued to grow until, as of this morning (Friday), it has received 802,902 hits.
Even Metallica's own YouTube channel now ‘likes' The Mini Band and the clip was show on the Good Morning Show on American channel, ABC this morning (Friday).
The band's manager, Leo Westby, of Cold Ash, said that people from across the globe, including Brazil, Russia, Africa and Australia had been viewing and commenting on the video.
He told Newburytoday.co.uk: "We don't know what has kicked this off.
"We are pretty staggered, I was flabbergasted.
"It's pretty amazing, we don't know when it's going to stop.
"The Mini Band love it, it has been really cool."
Thousands of people went along the third annual fundraising beer festival at Bucklebury's recreation ground.
The festival as raising money for maintenance of the Victory Room - the village hall - but the amount raised is not yet known.
The trustees are trying to raise funds for an extension to the Victory Room, to include new toilets and extra storage space.
One of the organisers, Anne Ryder, said that everybody had a good day and said that the crowds could have had something to do with the weather.
She said: "We were absolutely delighted with it.
"We didn't realise how popular it was going to be."
To see the video of The Mini Band, click on the link below, and let us know what you think by emailing Tanya.haji@newburynews.co.uk
