ONE of Oxford’s biggest stars has been making waves on the other side of the Atlantic with a coveted slot on a popular American TV show.

Gaz Coombes performed on the Late Late Show with James Corden – joined by his Oxford backing band.

The former Supergrass frontman, who lives in Wheatley, is currently touring the USA in support of his latest album, the acclaimed World’s Strongest Man. He was joined for the show by drummer Loz Colbert, from Oxford band Ride, and guitarist Garo Nahoulakian and bassist Nick ‘Growler’ Fowler – originally members of Steventon-based country-rock group Goldrush.

Gaz’s solo tour starts in Los Angeles on Wednesday and will see him playing Detroit, Montreal, Toronto, New York, Washington and finishing next month in Boston.

The band, who flew out to Los Angeles for the performance, played song Deep Pockets on the show, which regularly attracts well over a million viewers.

Growler said: “The offer to do the Corden show as a band came through at short notice. The Late Late Show is an institution so I couldn’t quite believe we were going to do it! Supergrass are very well respected in the States, and are held in high regard by some big name US musicians, so it’s great that we got the chance to play a song from Gaz’s new album in front of such a huge TV audience.

“James Corden and his team were so great to us, it was quite a day!”

Singer-songwriter Piney Gir provided backing vocals and dance moves. The artist, a familiar figure at Oxfordshire's Truck Festival, is a native of Kansas City and was delighted to be on the popular chat show.

She said: "It was amazing singing with Gaz on Corden. What a couple of legends! I had that 'I'm so lucky' rush to the heart during the soundcheck that stayed with me all day.

"There was a lot of 'hurry up...wait around' which is normal when you're in a band, but they looked after us so well.

"We had the full-on Hollywood rooftop bungalow experience complete with a view of the Hollywood sign, free champers and everyone treating us like rock stars.

"If I was to have a 'Groundhog Day' that would be my chosen day to live over and over again."

Garo and Growler’s former bandmates Robin and Joe Bennett, from Dorchester and Steventon, respectively, have also been touring Stateside, performing with St Etienne alongside frontwoman Sarah Cracknell, who lives near Oxford.

The band also boasts Oxford’s Mike ‘Micky Sticks’ Monaghan, originally from Carterton and now living in South Oxford, on drums.

St Etienne, best known for such songs as Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Nothing Can Stop Us, You’re in a Bad Way, and Join Our Club, have been celebrating the 20th anniversary of their album Good Humor.

They played shows in Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles – closing with a show at the famous Fonda Theatre.

Last year the band delighted Oxford fans with a hometown show in South Park as part of the Common People festival.

Brize Norton singer-songwriter Jonny Payne, is also in the States, currently in Virginia.