An autistic 23-year-old went to his first music festival alone; strangers who welcomed him into their camp helped his story reach Boomtown Fair, which invited him to perform a DJ set in 2027 | World News

Adam James, a 23-year-old autistic man from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, has been offered a DJ set at Boomtown Fair in 2027 after attending the music festival alone and befriending a group of strangers. The aspiring drum and bass DJ met the group when they asked whether he had a mallet to help put up their tents before inviting him to camp with them. His father, Andy, later shared a social media post thanking the “lads from Bristol”, which was seen by millions. The story caught the attention of Boomtown Fair’s co-founder, leading to the invitation.

How did strangers help him land a dream DJ set

Adam described how meeting the group helped him feel more comfortable during his first festival experience. Speaking to the BBC, he said: “I wasn’t very confident in myself, but as soon as I was with them, I was fine.” He also explained why their decision to include him had meant so much to him, adding: “They could have just ignored me, but the fact they saw I was on my own and took me in was just amazing.”His father subsequently shared a post expressing his gratitude to the group, referring to them as the “lads from Bristol”. The post was shared widely online, with the BBC reporting that it had been seen by millions of people. The story also led to Adam being reunited with the group at the Trident Pub in Bristol. Following the attention surrounding his experience, he was booked for several gigs, marking further opportunities to perform as a DJ.

Why was Adam invited to Boomtown Fair 2027

Adam’s story also reached the organisers of Boomtown Fair. The festival’s co-founder, Luke Mitchell, commented on a BBC video about the story, saying it had “circled the Boomtown office with absolute joy”. He also highlighted the importance of festivals in bringing people together, stating: “Stories like this are why festivals are so incredibly important.” Mitchell then asked Adam’s father: “Can we fix up a DJ set for Adam next year?”A spokesperson for Boomtown Fair subsequently confirmed that Adam had been asked to play a set at the 2027 festival. According to the BBC, the stage and performance times will be announced once programming for next year’s event has begun. The invitation followed the public response to Adam’s experience and his growing opportunities to perform at music events. His set will give him the chance to appear at the festival where he first met the group who welcomed him.

How did Adam’s story open new DJ opportunities

The response to Adam’s story extended beyond the festival invitation. The BBC reported that he had received numerous offers from DJs and clubs inviting him to attend their events and perform at their venues. He was also invited by the Pete Tong Academy to join a DJing course, providing another opportunity to develop his skills in the field of music.His father said the response had been particularly meaningful because Adam had faced cruel comments online in the past. Speaking to the BBC, Andy said: “He’s become very resilient, but he’s such a lovely bloke.” He added: “It means so much to me and his Mum too.” Andy also described the public reaction as “absolutely amazing” to see and said he had watched his son’s dreams come true. Adam’s experience at Boomtown Fair, which began with attending his first festival alone, has since led to new friendships, bookings and an invitation to perform at the 2027 event.