Drax Project's Bay musician opens for Ed Sheeran

Alternative pop band Drax Project will open for international pop star Ed Sheeran at his Auckland concerts next month. Photo/Supplied

Bay musician Ben O'Leary has been given the biggest gig of his career - he and his band Drax Project are opening for international superstar Ed Sheeran when he performs in Auckland next month.

Drax Project, whose single Woke Up Late was getting a lot of positive attention, is made up of former Katikati College student O'Leary on guitar and vocals, Shaan Singh, Matt Beachen and Sam Thomson. The band was confirmed to perform at Sheeran's Auckland shows at Mt Smart Stadium on March 24, 25 and 26.

Of Drax Project, Sheeran said they were "doing really great stuff at the moment plus they hail from one of my favourite places in the world, Wellington, so extra points there".

O'Leary, who grew up in Waihi Beach where his parents still live, said he never thought they would be given the opportunity to open for such a massive act.

When Sheeran's tour was announced, O'Leary said their manager made a passing comment that Drax Project would love to open for Sheeran. He did not think it would become a reality.

He learned of the news after getting off stage during the Flochella Music Festival in Rotorua and was blown away.

O'Leary said everyone in the band were fans of Sheeran and couldn't believe they were about to perform their biggest gig of their career.

"He's a pretty amazing songwriter," O'Leary said.

"It will be by far the most people we've ever played to."

O'Leary, 23, said he believed 47,000 tickets had been sold to Sheeran's concert and even if half of those attendees were there for their performance, that would still be their biggest audience.

Drax Project's biggest crowd so far was around 3000-5000 people, he said.

"We've done school balls in the past, we've played to younger audiences but I feel Ed Sheeran has just got such a wide demographic."

O'Leary said they had not yet decided what their set would include as the selection was still sinking in.

"We haven't even thought about what we're going to play.

"I'm kind of getting a little bit more nervous the more we talk about.

"I'd say it's more exciting than anything."

He had no expectations of being able to meet Sheeran when he performs before him next month but he was hopeful and would love to be able to jam with him.

"He seems real down to earth."

O'Leary left Waihi Beach at the end of high school to study music in Wellington, where he was now based. He said he met Beachen and Thomson through Wellington's music scene and was asked to perform with Drax Project at a gig.

"I kind of just knew them from around the place.

"I got asked to fill in."

He said from there, he played more gigs and eventually joined the band as a permanent member.

"I don't think it was actually intended that I be in the band," he joked.

He said he was excited about the attention the band was receiving, especially with Woke Up Late, which he said was not even on the list of potential singles.

"It was a little song in the background."