Busker Joely hoping to hit the big time (From Gazette)

Busker Joely hoping to hit the big time

6:00pm Wednesday 21st November 2012 in News

A COLCHESTER busker is hoping to hit the big time.

Joely Lees, 22, is now a certainty to make it through to the final of talent competition Essex Factor.

Urban acoustic guitarist Joely has been competing for the last eight weeks and will perform in the semi-final on Sunday safe in the knowledge he has already made the final, on Sunday, December 2 at Thurrock Civic Hall, in Grays.

“Win or not, the competition has been great for me,” the performer, of Old Heath Road, said.

“The support I have got from the people of Colchester so far has been amazing and I need a real push in the semi-final and the final.”

The competition has four categories, each of which is mentored by one of the four judges.

Joely is in the 21 to 25-year-old category and has performed songs from musical Les Miserables and Labyrinth on his way to the semi-final.

The performer with the most accumulated votes after the final will win a £10,000 recording contract and a £1,000 advance on their first single.

The finalists have already recorded a charity single, a cover version of Michael Jackson’s Man in the Middle, which can be bought on iTunes and is available on Spotify, priced at £3.06.

To vote for Joely text ‘Factor Joely’ to 85010 anytime.

To find out more, search Facebook for ‘Joely Lees Essex Factor’ or to buy a £15 ticket for the final, call 07906911507.