A ROCK god jammed with talented young artists as a music school marked its 10th anniversary with a special workshop.
Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal, ex-guitarist in world-famous band Guns N' Roses, spent Tuesday afternoon with children from across West Oxfordshire at an event organised by the Bumblefoot Rock Project.
The project has been named after the rockstar since 2015 and Mr Thal found a gap in his busy schedule to play at the afternoon workshop and evening gig at Fat Lil's bar, Witney.
More than 350 people attended the two events combined, with pupils from five primary schools invited to the afternoon masterclass.
WATCH: Mini goes up in flames in Carterton
Several young musicians showcased their talents alongside the guitarist on stage and Mike Dove, co-founder of the rock project, hopes it will inspire more young people to get involved.
He said: "We wanted to give the children that opportunity to hear Ron play and see our students on stage with him. We were very proud of them."
Tom Holloway, a nine-year-old aspiring musician from Chipping Norton, was one of the lucky ones to jam with the American.
He said: "It was nerve-wracking, but really fun. It did inspire me."
Read again: Wychwood Brewery beer named world's best IPA
The crowd was enthralled as Mr Thal played some hits and answered questions, before he met children and signed autographs.
He first visited the music school while touring the UK with Guns N' Roses in 2010 and has returned 'at least half a dozen' times since then.
Mr Thal said: "We jammed and spoke and got to share our worlds.
"Anytime I was in town I would come and visit and over time Mike reached out and said they wanted to name the school after me. I was honoured."
The rock project has taught hundreds of children over the last nine years, with some young musicians becoming teachers themselves.
Members of West Oxfordshire band, The Reaper, learnt at the school and are now passing on the baton to the next generation.
Lee Wyatt-Buchan, who founded the original rock school in February 2009 as Witchwood School of Rock, paid tribute to this progression.
He said: "It's really quite cool to see their development over the years, having gone through the journey of learning an instrument, songwriting, recording, doing music videos."
At 8pm , one hour after the children left, music fans were already pouring into the bar for the sold out-gig, which did not finish until midnight.
The rock project, which is part of the Shipton RF & VH Charity, is based at New Beaconsfield Hall in Shipton-under-Wychwood, near Witney.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here