A MUSICIAN has said he is 'mind blown' as he is set to return to his hometown to perform a milestone gig after years of touring.
Fraser Morgan, from Colchester, is gearing up to play his 1,000th gig at the city's Arts Centre.
The acoustic folk-punk and singer-songwriter's mix of music will be celebrated in a special show next month.
Fraser said: "It's blown my mind a bit that I've gotten this far.
"To hit that 1,000 and to be in a room full of friends and family is really amazing.
"I keep track of all my gigs on an Excel spreadsheet.
"I say to everyone that you have to count everything, everything that you do.
"If you drive your car to the shop, even if it's round the corner, the miles still count.
"If you have played 1,000 times then you have played 1,000 times. It doesn't matter if someone has asked you to do it or not you have still done it."
Fraser, who was born in Braintree but now lives in Colchester, said he "always enjoyed rhyming words", remembering doing so at just age six.
"I used to always love performing as a kid," he said.
"I picked up a guitar on my 16th birthday and I started gigging from there really.
"I got my first gig when I was 16, and it was in Braintree and I got £50 and I was awful.
"Then I started to build myself and my music career throughout the years in Colchester."
Having performed at the venue a few times before, Fraser admits he has been mocked before and during his career.
He said: "There was someone at Colchester Sixth Form who said to me that 'music is not for you', so to have the gig a couple of doors down from where I got told that, although I don't hold grudges, is quite cool and comedic.
Jackson Rivers and Jack Walsh, who are managed by Fraser's record label Sad Buds Records, which he runs with Dan Warburton and Jake Cheek, will be opening the gig alongside Celtic folk duo Armoured Man.
Fraser Morgan is coming to the Colchester Arts Centre on June 8, with doors opening at 7pm.
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