Some of the planet’s biggest pop and rock stars are lining up to play this weekend’s Glastonbury Festival, with appearances by the likes of Beyonce, U2, Coldplay, Paul Simon, Morrissey, BB King and Primal Scream.

But, alongside the mega-stars are a less-well known bunch of Oxford musicians who are looking forward to the biggest show of their careers.

The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band have been a fixture on the Oxfordshire music scene for three years, playing everything from school fetes and street parties to the Cowley Road Carnival.

But word of their impulsive blend of traditional jazz and old-time swing music has gone far – reaching the organisers of Europe’s biggest music festival.

After playing in a corner of the festival last year, the band have been invited back to Somerset to grace one of its biggest stages, playing to potentially tens of thousands of people – three times over the course of the weekend.

What makes their appearance even more special is that far from being a bunch of professional musicians, this talented seven-piece are all regular guys – aged 24-54 – who hold down regular day jobs.

Sadly, however, one of the ‘Rabbits’ will be staying behind.

Saxophonist John ‘Muggsy’ West, the charismatic face of the band has been forced to pull out of the festival after suffering a collapsed lung.

He has left the rest of the group – ‘Baron’ Stuart Macbeth, from South Oxford, ‘Bunny’ Eros from East Oxford, John ‘Skippy’ Gannon, from Witney, Paul ‘Buzz’ Booker from Didcot, Michael ‘Red’ Wilkins from Wantage, and Carlo Matassa, from East Oxford – to play on without him.

“We are really excited to be playing on such a big stage at Glastonbury; it is the biggest gig we have ever played,” said bandleader and pianist Stuart.

“It is just such a shame Muggsy won’t be joining us. He has been at almost every gig we have played, whether he is ill or not.

“He has not missed a show since August 2008, and is really gutted.”

He adds: “Glastonbury is jinxed for us. Last year our guitarist, Red, broke his hand the night before the festival and we had to fly someone in from Guernsey, who nearly died in a plane crash on the way back.”

Muggsy, a web engineer from South Oxford, said: “I am desperately disappointed.

“I had been struggling with my health for a while. And while the sax did not cause the problem, it didn’t help.

“I’m just so grateful to the John Radcliffe Hospital for sorting me out. I can’t believe how amazing they are.”

He added: “I love Glastonbury. It’s become the biggest festival in Europe – although something of a military operation – and I really wanted to be there.

“I don’t even want to be in Oxford.

“I just want to pretend the weekend’s not happening.”

news@oxordmail.co.uk The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band’s new album, Year of the Rabbit, is out on iTunes, or from Rapture Records in Witney, and The Truck Store, in Cowley Road, Oxford