Paolo Nutini hails Jay Beatty as ‘his hero’

The Scottish singer invited Jay and his family to his gig in Glasgow on Saturday night and all had the VIP treatment.

Jay, his mum Aine, dad Martin and sister Olivia hung out with the singer for a few hours before the gig.

Paolo and his new pal Jay had a sing song in the back of a taxi with Jay strumming away on his guitar.

The gig at Bellahouston was packed with 35,000 people and 11-year-old Jay was guest of honour.

Hoops-mad Paolo even dedicated his hit song These Streets to the youngster on stage.

He told the crowd the pair had been backstage practicing his set together prior to the show.

Dad Martin told the MAIL he nearly fell out of bed last Wednesday when he got a call from Paolo inviting Jay and the family to the gig.

Jay Beatty with Paulo Nutini on their way to the gig

“We were going to the Celtic match anyway in the afternoon and couldn’t believe it when Paolo rang and invited us to his gig,” he said.

“And not only that Paolo’s mum rang the next day and asked if we had any dietary requirements as they were having a feast backstage before gig,” he said.

The family spent quite a while with Martin and the family prior to the gig.

Martin revealed that they met Paolo in a house close to the gig and spent a bit of time with him.

Paulo Nutini with Jay Beatty and his mum Aine

Then Paolo brought them in his SUV with bodyguards to the backstage area.

They had a sing song in the back of the car.

“We were in his dressing room and he couldn’t have been nicer. He asked Jay what his favourite song was and Jay said Hail Hail,” he laughed.

Jay knows a load of Paulo’s songs as mum Aine and sister Olivia are big fans and his music is never off in the car, so he was able to sing along to some tunes with the Scottish singer.

Martin said he couldn’t believe it, Paolo told Jay that he was his hero.

Martin said Jay and him stayed backstage as it was a bit too much for Jay but was delighted when Paolo dedicated his song The Streets to the Lurgan boy.

“He said he was dedicating the song to the most famous person he knew - Jay Beatty,” said Martin.

“You don’t expect a wee boy from Lurgan to get that,” he said.

Martin’s wife Aine and daughter Olivia went to the after show party and everyone had a great time.

“This kind of stuff doesn’t happen to people,” said Martin, who added that he hoped it would raise the profile of Downs and Proud.

Jay gave Paolo a Downs and Proud bag and Paolo gave him T shirts.

“He absolutely loved it,” said Martin.