Paolo Nutini's secret gig at T

By Sinead Garvan
Newsbeat entertainment reporter in Balado

Nutini performed under the name Snake Derrick And The Vipers

Paolo Nutini surprised fans by playing new songs for the first time in the UK at T in the Park.

The 5pm slot on the T Break stage on Saturday wasn't confirmed until hours before Snake Derrick And The Vipers took to the stage.

Paolo Nutini told Newsbeat why he decided to go under a different name.

He said: "It's just a bit of fun, it gives us a way of doing new songs and not worry about playing so much from the last time.

He added that the idea for the name came from a computer game.

"I was playing the football pro-evolution game and there was a guy called Snake Derrick on there and he scored a lot of goals for me so I thought it would be a good name," he said.

Fans of Paolo shouldn't worry though. He's not keeping his new name.

He said: "This should be the only time Snake Derrick does any gigs."

Those who packed into the T Break tent seemed to love his new material as much as when he belted out New Shoes at the very end.

As soon as it's ready I guess. It's coming along, mixing it soon. Hopefully by October. Paolo Nutini on his new album

The crowd left delighted they had caught this one-off performance of Snake Derrick And The Vipers.

Plastic snakes and T-shirts were handed out by Paolo and his band at the end, perhaps to ensure they wouldn't be forgotten.

Jenny from Glasgow had no idea he was playing.

She said: "It was a surprise, he was so good. Brilliant, brilliant, better than his old stuff."

Katy from Kinross loved hearing the new material: "Great yeah, he's kind of making him a true artist, being more rootsy, not really giving a damn what everyone else thinks and not trying to do the pop thing."

It certainly wasn't particularly poppy.

Most of the tracks included a saxophone, maracas and a harmonica giving it a more jazzy and even country and western feel.

There are 11 stages at this year's T in the Park festival site

There was even a bit of country dancing on stage at one point.

Paolo told Newsbeat: "It's probably a bit more dynamic than in the first record.

"If you scratch it there's a little bit more to it. This is just some more [tracks] to gig with really."

So when will everyone else hear his new material?

"Not sure. As soon as it's ready I guess. I'm producing it myself," he said.

"It's coming along, mixing it soon. Hopefully by October."