Chris Martin calls Chiedu Oraka about Coldplay Hull support slot

A musician has relived the “surreal” moment he was asked to support Coldplay for their concerts in Hull.

Chiedu Oraka, who is from the city, will join the band for their dates at Craven Park on 18 and 19 August after he was personally contacted by frontman Chris Martin.

The dates in Hull take place before Coldplay perform a record 10 nights at Wembley Stadium.

Oraka said: “I’ve had to keep it a secret for a long time, I’ve known about it since last year. His management got in touch with mine and said Chris wanted my number. The rest is history.”

Oraka told BBC Radio Humberside that he found out he would be supporting the band after Martin called him via Facetime from a studio in Los Angeles.

The call started with Martin introducing himself as “Chris from the band Coldplay” before he said: “I heard your music and we’d love you to come play with us in Hull in August.

“We have two shows and we’d be so happy,” he added.

Oraka, who first shot to prominence on BBC Introducing and played the Glastonbury Festival last year, said the latest milestone in his music career “doesn’t feel real”.

“He [Chris Martin] told me he loved my music, quoted some of my lyrics and said he wanted to catch up. I never thought it would happen,” Oraka said.

“I never thought the singer of the biggest band in the world would ever call me.”

Oraka also said he was trying not to think about the shows too much and would “just live in the moment”.

He added: “It’s a massive platform for me and I’m going to bring that Hull energy – I think that’s why Chris wants me there.

“I want to make the city proud.”