AN ASPIRING teen musician says he is looking forward to being up on stage and performing as he gets set for his first-ever solo gig in a well-known Glasgow pub.

John Taylor-Spence has only been playing the guitar for five years but admits he has big ambitions as he headlines the Newborn Sessions evening at Sauchiehall Street’s Broadcast on February 28.

The Old Kilpatrick native – who was also a child actor with speaking roles in Sunshine On Leith and Scottish Mussel - is juggling writing new material with life as a student, as he currently studies English Literature and Music at Glasgow University.

And, speaking exclusively to the Clydebank Post, John recalls it was a chance evening at a friend of the family’s music gig when his life focus was quickly shifted into focus – deciding to vocals to his guitar melodies.

He tells the story: “What made me want to take up singing alongside the guitar and take it all more seriously was after I recently went to a gig.

“There was a support acoustic singer – and I’d never been to an acoustic gig before – her name was Lori Bradley and she had phenomenal everything.

“Guitar playing, stage presence and her vocals were amazing, and I just looked at that and thought, ‘I want to be able to do that, I want to be able to sing like that.”

Before adding: “From here I have decided I want to take performing and music as seriously as I can and do whatever I need to do to make it as a performer.

“The ultimate goal is to improve my singing voice, get a more distinctive sound and just keep songwriting.”

Admitting he has been doing work on the singing side of things, the 18-year-old former Clydebank High pupil revealed he takes his musical nods from legends such as The Beatles and can quite often vary his style – with him going through a recent Blues period.

“I started playing violin when I was about nine,” continued John.

“And then about three years after that I decided to take up guitar.

“A family friend of my mum – who is a piano teacher herself – taught me guitar.

“The way it worked, he would teach my guitar and my mum would teach his daughter piano.”

The youngster has also been writing material since he was 14 and insists he holds no nerves about stepping on stage – alone – for the first time at the end of next month.

He finished: “I’m feeling confident, I am just excited to get up there.

“I was a child actor so that performing thrill is still very much there.”