A year on from their homecoming performance at Stockwood Park, JW Paris have released a new mini-documentary celebrating their emotional return to Luton for Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2024.
The grunge-tinged Britpop-influenced trio — made up of Lutonians Danny Collins and Aaron Forde, alongside drummer Gemma Clarke, formerly of Babyshambles — took to the BBC Music Introducing Stage last May, delivering a high-energy set that left a lasting impression on their hometown crowd.
Tracks like ‘Electric Candle Light’, ‘Who Are You’, and ‘Favourite Thing’ — the latter lifted with an unexpected trumpet solo from Stopsley teen Joshua Bowman of the Luton Youth Orchestra — showcased the band’s raw energy and distinctive sound. But for the band, the emotional weight of the moment was just as important as the music.
“Going back to Luton to play Radio 1’s Big Weekend is a real full-circle moment,” said bassist Aaron Forde. “We played football when we were kids on Stockwood Park, and now we’re playing Radio 1’s Big Weekend. It’s like a career shift, but the same pitch.”
The newly released documentary captures not just the performance, but the deeper connection between JW Paris and the town that raised them. From their early days gigging at The Castle and the University of Bedfordshire’s student union, to sharing a major festival stage with household names, like fellow Lutonian-turned-global-superstar Myles Smith and Coldplay who closed out the three-day festival, the film traces a journey steeped in local pride.
“It feels really good because Gemma has just heard about Luton and where we grew up — all the great things we’ve experienced from the town,” said guitarist Danny Collins. “We played a couple of festivals back in Luton, like CastleFest.”
He added of the Big Weekend: “This is the biggest thing that’s happened to the town, and we’re so excited for the town — even before we knew we were playing. We never thought we’d have the chance.”
The documentary also touches on Luton’s rich, if often overlooked, musical legacy, as Collins said: “Luton and the relationship with Luton and music — when we were first in bands, there were a lot of pubs that put on live music. In the past, Luton’s always had music going for it. Like the carnival — it’s one of the biggest day festivals in Luton.”
He recalled: “I remember seeing Desmond Dekker at the Luton Carnival at the age of 12, and I was like, ‘That is wicked.’ In Wardown Park, Desmond Dekker is playing — a legend of reggae and ska.”
The band’s Big Weekend appearance coincided with the release of their single ‘Who Are You’, which received radio play and attention on streaming platforms. For JW Paris, the moment marked not only a milestone in their career but a tribute to the town that shaped them.
Watch the documentary below…
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