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Songstress Jess has got stars in her eyes

13/ 3/2008

A TALENTED teenage singer-songwriter has made it through to the regional finals of a huge music competition.

Jess Kershaw, 16, has already battled through rounds of auditions, a semi final live show and beat off 10,000 other hopefuls, to reach the final stages of the prestigious Live and Unsigned competition.

And she is now just one impressive performance away from making it to the national grand final in London and perhaps being crowned the under 18 act of 2008.

The musical theatre student, who plays the guitar and keyboards, penned and sang one of her own songs during the audtions and semi final called ‘The Streets of London’ and she now hopes her tune will come true.

Jess, who lives with her family on Sandy Lane, Moorclose, said: "I’m very excited about this opportunity. I’ve made it through to the regional final and if I get through this one I will get to go to London."

Live and Unsigned is a national music competition for unsigned bands and singers to compete live. Acts are encouraged to do their own thing; be individual, original and perform their own genre and style live on stage.

Chris Grayston, events director of Live and Unsigned, said: "This cannot be compared to any other talent searches as the acts’ talent is the show. We are interested in discovering and exposing talent as its best, live."

The under 18 winner will get the chance to record a track written by Lemar and Mark Hill – Craig David’s producer – and will also get to record an album.

If Jess continues with her success she could perform in front of a capacity crowd in London, including many professionals from the music industry.

There are three adult categories as well, best female, male and unsigned band, with the overall winner getting a recording contract.

Jessica is now preparing for the regional final competition which will take place on 6 April at 2pm at The Willows in Salford.