SEVERAL years ago Tommy Reilly was one of the paying punters at T in The Park, roaring along to Oasis as they closed the 2002 festival.

SEVERAL years ago Tommy Reilly was one of the paying punters at T in The Park, roaring along to Oasis as they closed the 2002 festival.

This Sunday, he'll be back at Scotland's biggest music festival, but wrapping the weekend up in a slightly different manner - by headlining the T-Break stage.

It's the latest event a career that has left Tommy shaking his head in disbelief. Just a few months ago, he triumphed in the Orange Unsigned Act contest, and now the teenager from Torrance in East Dunbartonshire has found himself touring up and down the country, enjoying thousands of people singing his songs back to him at Rock Ness and working on his debut album with former Suede man Bernard Butler.

But it's the prospect of returning to T that excites him the most.

"When I went for the first time, I was about 14 or 15, and Oasis were headlining. That's when I decided that's what I wanted to do. I'd always done a bit of writing, but that gave me a whole new focus. When they played Don't Look Back In Anger, there was something about all these people who didn't know each other just hugging and singing. I guess I've always wanted to write a song that would make people sing like that.

"After playing Rock Ness, I've got a taste for festivals now - that was my first one. I'd loved them before as a customer, but there's something about the vibe, where everyone is in the mindset that they're going to have fun, which makes the crowd more receptive.

"Everyone feels like they're on holiday, so if they like it they'll let you know, and if they're not enjoying it, they'll also let you know! But that's part of the fun. It's going to be like our own wee show at T. Hopefully it'll be rammed!"

While it was the sight of the Gallagher brothers that drove Tommy onwards, it's the Mancunians old Britpop rivals that he can't wait to see at this year's T.

"I thought I'd missed seeing Blur live as I was really young during the Britpop years, so to get to see them should be amazing. It'll be a nice way to close out the Sunday. And I really want to see Lily Allen too, she'll be good fun. I really like her music."

When we speak, the 19-year-old is still feeling the after-effects of his Rock Ness weekend. But despite performing in front of a huge crowd there are a few people that he can always spot in the audience...

"You can always spot your mum and dad, which is horrible, as they're looking right at you. I played Rock Ness, which was crazy as it was the most people I've ever played to - I was so nervous I couldn't even really talk between songs, but I could always spot my mates kicking about."

Having his mum and dad onside also helps ensure Tommy keeps his feet firmly on the ground. But there seems to be no danger of Tommy's fame gong to his head. Speaking to him he comes across as level-headed and chatty; less concerned with fame than getting a feed from his local Gregg's.

Tommy's experienced other changes recently too. While he's best known as an acoustic guitar playing solo artist, recent gigs have seen him accompanied by extra musicians, to help bulk up his sound. It's all about helping to re-create the feeling of his forthcoming debut album, Words On The Floor, which is due out in August.

For the record, he was lucky to work with former Suede guitarist Butler, who has previously produced albums by everyone from Welsh warbler Duffy to Glasgow's own angry country-punks Sons & Daughters.

Butler has a reputation as a fearsome studio taskmaster, but Tommy insists it was smooth sailing from day one.

He recalled: "I was reading about the albums he'd done, it's really nice to have a guy like that working with you, it gives you a lot of confidence. To have someone of that calibre be willing to work with you really gives you a whole new level of enthusiasm.

Creativity, it drives you on. We didn't want an acoustic album, so we'd just jam, and work together.

"We wanted to make sure it wasn't over-produced, and we had a lot of spontaneous ideas that we just fired in. I didn't get the impression that he was difficult to work with at all, I just thought he was a guy who knew what he wanted to do. He wasn't demanding, but I was willing to work as hard as I possibly could - we were in there till all hours some nights."

But while his enjoyment of the studio process is clear, Tommy loves touring.

"I've never had so much fun as playing live. Staying somewhere different is really good fun - I'd hope to start going to Europe and places like that after this year. I'll stop for Christmas, and maybe my birthday - the rest of the time it'll be head down and touring!"

n Tommy Reilly plays T In The Park on Sunday.