Local drummer goes Supernova

A DRUMMER from Loughborough has hit the big time playing with rising star Mr Hudson.
Andrew “Wilkie” Wilkinson, 24, grew up in Nanpantan, and has played for local acts including punk band Wester and the Loughborough Grammar School Big Band.
However nowadays Wilkie more commonly shares a stage with top international stars - such as Kanye West, Amy Winehouse, Calvin Harris and Sting - as part of Mr Hudson’s band The Library, who scored a major hit with single Supernova earlier this year.
Wilkie’s work can also be heard on Mr Hudson’s current album Straight No Chaser, which has reached number 25 in the album charts.
He said: “I moved from Loughborough to London to go to art college about five years ago, where I met Ben (Mr Hudson) in a pub.
“I joined his band and played on the first album, A Tale Of Two Cities. It wasn’t a massive sales success, but musicians were basically telling each other about it.
“Kanye West ended up getting a copy, and then wanted to meet.
“It’s still frightening meeting all these stars, people like Kanye have such a big presence, even though offstage he’s quite a quiet man.”
• Mr Hudson, complete with Wilkie Wilkinson on drums, will be returning to the East Midlands to play The Royal in Derby on November 13.