Year six student Rhys Toms usually makes dance music from his dad's home office in Kaleen, on Sunday he played to a crowd of 10,000 at Groovin the Moo.
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The 11-year-old Maribyrnong Primary School student shot to fame last month when one of his tracks made under his music producer alias Black Summer was played on triple J.
On Sunday his meteoric rise reached a new high when he took over from triple J DJ Zan Rowe to play a set in the Moolin Rouge tent on the grounds of the University of Canberra for what was his first official gig as a performer.
"He absolutely killed it," Rhys' tired, but proud, dad Rick Toms said on Monday.
"It's like his been doing it for 30 years, he was absolutely awesome."
Rhys was only meant to play a few tracks including his original Toxic Nirvana during the 10-minute changeover between San Cisco and Carmada.
But it was so well received by the crowd he played an entire set, also mixing his other tracks Fist Pump, Bomb Drop and DNA, while his parents sat on speakers nearby looking on with pride and shock.
"It was very nerve-wracking, but when I was up there and started playing my music the nerves went away," Rhys said.
"When the chorus started for Toxic Nirvana everyone started screaming and that's when I knew I didn't have to be nervous."
After scoring four free passes to Groovin the Moo, Mr Toms contacted the triple J presenters who were impressed by Rhys' tracks on unearthed.
They told him Rowe was DJing at the festival and she and the Groovin the Moo general manager agreed Rhys deserved a chance to make his debut.
"It went from four free tickets, to AAA passes and rocking out to 10,000 people," Mr Toms said.
To prepare for his set Rhys had two hours of lessons with Canberra DJ and producer James B-tham, who has donated his time to help the young producer hone his craft and find his way around a CD DJ deck.
"I was really worried I wouldn't know what to do, but I got up there and it was the same mixing deck I'd been practicing on," Rhys said.
The hometown gig is unlikely to be his last, provided school doesn't get in the way.
"He wants to be a touring artist, but he's only in year six… and school comes first," Mr Toms said.
"But there's no reason he can't duck off once or twice a month."
"I had people walk up to us in the mall and say 'that's Black Summer'," he said.
"[But] there's only one person in my whole grade who knows what Groovin the Moo is, my friends were like 'grooving the what?'."
A star-struck Rhys and his family took advantage of the backstage access to meet other acts including Wolfmother and the Hilltop Hoods.
"It was crazy hanging out with them," Mr Toms said.
"Everyone was very supportive… especially [dance duo] Carmada they really took him under their wing."
