A BURNHAM-on-Sea man celebrated his birthday in style and treated himself to special performance from Newton Faulkner.

Darren Lloyd from Burnham organised to have the popular folk singer perform at the Avenue Tennis Club in Burnham on July 8 as part of his 50th birthday celebrations as a surprise for his friends and family.

Mr Lloyd said: "I am an avid music fan and go to many concerts but Newton’s music is really special to me and I wanted to create an evening for friends and family that they would remember for the rest of their lives."

Darren said he feels 'lucky' to have booked the star, who headlined at the Hazy Days festival in Weston-super-Mare on July 7 and said he has been a fan of his music for a number of years.

"Newton and his sister, Lottie, who is also his manager are such lovely people.

"They played Frisbee with my four year-old daughter for much of the hour and a half leading up to the performance after they had set up Newtons guitars.

"Newton was incredibly generous with his time and played for well over an hour and a half when this was originally set up as a short 45-60 minute living room gig.

"He started with a set list of 12 songs but ended up playing many more including several that he had not rehearsed for his current tour that were requested from the floor.

"Highlights included 'Dream Catch Me' and a complete rendition of 'Bohemian Rhapsody' that has to be seen to be believed as it is incredibly complicated.

"He also treated us to a preview of several of the songs that will be appearing on his new album and they were as good as anything he has released previously.

" Newton delivered the entire performance unplugged with nothing but his incredible voice and guitar and a little audience participation

for accompaniment.

"Before and after the gig, Newton chatted with most of my guests and happily gave autographs and posed for pictures.

"It was a great way to celebrate my 50th birthday, it was a dream come true."