A LOCAL singer has found stardom at Glastonbury Festival.

Antonia Suñer, from Dartmouth, has been gracing the stage at the luxury Pop-up Hotel at the world famous music festival.

The festival, which is held at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, is attended by thousands each year. Antonia performed on both guitar and piano. Known for its VIP presence, the Pop-up Hotel is known for its 'glamping', with festival-goers luxury yurts costing up to £8,000.

Antonia was due to perform a solo slot on the opening night on Tuesday at 6.15pm, another solo slot on Wednesday and a trio performance alongside bass player Mary Caffrey and guitarist Bill Birks at 4pm and 9pm and is due to play a final solo slot tomorrow at 1pm.

Antonia, who has lived in Dartmouth for eight years and has three children aged 14, 10 and five, currently plays within a seven-piece band based in Ashburton called the Tee Marcheur Band. The band has a record label lined up as well as a tour of the United States, with some members having played with music greats such as Jimi Hendrix.

Antonia said: 'It all happened during a rehearsal over in a studio in Ashburton with the band.

'One of the members knew a lady who was organising the music for Glastonbury and invited her along to listen to us play.

'Luckily I was belting out the songs and afterwards she came up and introduced herself, saying she liked what I had done to the song and asked if I would like to have a slot at Glastonbury and could I think about it and let her know later. I didn't have to think. Within a nanosecond I said yes.

'As a baby, I knew music was in me, from when I could pull myself up to stand by the piano and play. Over the years I went on to perform in orchestras, however after growing up and got married I didn't touch music for 12 years.

'After the break up of my marriage, I found myself picking up a guitar and writing a healing song. With my friends encouraging me saying I should do some more and that I should "just go for it", I got back into my music.

'So when I left my job at the English Heritage two years ago, I had my first gig at Bellini's.

'I found it so awful that I swore I would never do it again. However, I pushed myself and went on to perform at locations around Dartmouth, such as Bayards Cove, the Royal Castle Hotel, the Ship Inn, at the music festival and in Kingsbridge as well, each time gathering confidence and pace.'

Antonia describes her music as personal, using her own interpretation of covers to produce music that comes straight from the heart.

Leading up to this week, Antonia said she was nervous about performing at Glastonbury. She said: 'I am very excited but also extremely nervous. As I am performing in the VIP Pop-up Hotel area, where people pay around £8,000 to stay there. I am very apprehensive of who's going to be listening to me.

'I have always wanted to do this but I never thought I was good enough.

'Life's too short, you are here as you are, the only one stopping you is you. You have to be true to your heart and never let anyone else say you can't do something.'