Performing to thousands of festivalgoers usually takes years of touring to achieve. However, 16-year-old Lathallan School students Poppy, Jennifer, and Mia are fast-tracking that journey as they prepare to take the stage this summer.
Performing under the name J*mp – created using their initials with a star built in, the talented trio are gearing up to take the Garden Stage at 4.55pm on Saturday 15 August at Summer’s End Angus. Headlined by Sugababes, The Jacksons, Rudimental and Emeli Sandé, the three-day, family-friendly event has already sold more than 10,000 tickets, more than doubling the population of the Angus town for the weekend of 14–16 August.
Stepping onto a festival bill alongside such seasoned performers is a massive leap, but the group is taking it all in stride. With a sound built on heartfelt acoustic storytelling, J*mp continues to prove that age is no barrier to crafting resonant, authentic music.
It wasn’t long before J*mp took their sound out of the Lathallan School classroom and onto local stages. A standout appearance at Montrose Music Fest gave audiences a first taste of their original material, proving that their stripped-back style could hold the attention of a busy crowd.
“We came up with a bunch of songs and decided which ones we thought fitted our sound best,” the band explained. “We thought about the demographic of the audience, so we have a good mix of high-energy songs plus some of our own songs to introduce the audience to our own style.”
That thoughtful approach to setlists, balancing energetic covers with raw, personal songwriting, has quickly set them apart on the local scene.
Guitarist Poppy crafts the songs and arrangements, lead singer Mia drives the creative direction and vocal hooks, while bassist Jennifer keeps the operation moving by taking charge of key decisions behind the scenes. The core line-up will also be expanded for their Summer’s End appearance, with fellow Lathallan pupil Finn stepping in on drums.
As they prepared for Summer’s End, the band met with Katie Nicoll – the 2026 Scottish Young Live Artist of the Year and BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year finalist. Working alongside an artist who has navigated the exact same local pathway provided invaluable insight into stagecraft, confidence, and set pacing.
“Grow in confidence, reach a wider audience, and get more experience in live performances.”
Those three clear goals drive everything the group is working toward this summer. And when asked how they manage the inevitable pre-show nerves before stepping out in front of a big festival crowd, their answer is simple, total team support.
“Hype each other up and practice so that we all know exactly what to do.”
What truly connects J*mp with their listeners is the honesty woven through their original material. Their Summer’s End set features two original songs, including Partways and a brand-new, unreleased track making its debut on the Garden Stage.
Both tracks lean heavily into a singer-songwriter, acoustic aesthetic, pairing sparse arrangements with deeply personal, heartfelt lyrics. By keeping the instrumentation intimate, the focus remains entirely on their vocal harmonies and lyrical storytelling.
“We’re performing two original songs at Summer’s End—Partways, which we’ve played before, and we’re particularly excited to perform our new song,” they shared. “They’re both of a singer-songwriter and acoustic style with heartfelt lyrics.”
Although Summer’s End 2026 hasn’t taken place yet, it is already on track to become the largest-ever first-year independent festival in the UK.
As J*mp step onto the Garden Stage this Saturday, 15th August, the performance marks not just a milestone for these talented young performers, but a glimpse into the future of the local music scene.
