Big break for Katie as warm-up for JLS

A YOUNG Sutherland singer, songwriter and guitarist has been chosen to open the JLS and Olly Murs concert at Ross County’s Victoria Park Stadium in Dingwall on Saturday.

Sixteen-year-old Katie Davies of Bonar Bridge will perform in front of an expected audience of around 9500 JLS fans.

The youngster was yesterday (Thursday) said to be over the moon at the honour. The concert has been described as the "biggest thing to hit Dingwall in years".

Katie, a member of the Kyle of Sutherland Youth Group, released her own CD Wasting Time last month. Last Friday she performed at the youth group in front of around 170 people.

Chair of the youth group management committee, Hayley Bangs, said: "She is absolutely thrilled, although a little bit nervous."

It is understood Katie was picked after concert organisers saw a clip on Myspace of one of her performances.

Hayley said: "I think the organisers were just looking around for a local artist to do the opening.

"Somebody spoke to somebody at Ross County about Katie and they took a look at the Myspace clip and were so impressed that they got in touch with her."

Katie will be on stage at 6pm for a 15-minute slot to welcome the JLS audience with a selection of her own acoustic songs. Tickets for the concert can still be purchased at www.seetickets.com or from the club.

Ross County director Gavin Wright said: "As a community club, we wanted to support young local talent. We were interested in four artists who we heard about by word of mouth and whose work we listened to. Katie was chosen because she is a really good and exciting young performer."

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