IT has been a whirlwind 12 months for The Voice star Joe Keegan — and he is not thinking of slowing down any time soon.

Thornleigh Salesian College pupil has made waves since his appearance on series three of the BBC1 singing show which sees contestants singing to judges who base their talent on their voice alone.

Joe was mentored on the show by Kylie Minogue, who he describes as "lovely" and "hardworking", and despite losing his place in the show in a battle against Jamie Johnson, Joe's career has gone from strength to strength.

He played his single Pick Myself Up at the launch event for the first Bolton Pride festival on Thursday, which is the soundtrack to the three-day event, and his second single Tales of an Old Town is out next month.

Joe, aged 18, said: The opportunities that The Voice has given me have been incredible — things I might not have done if I didn't appear on it.

"I have just come back from a small tour in Benidorm and also had some down-time, which was nice. Next I am going to Ireland. It's been non-stop since I appeared on The Voice — but it's been the best time of my life."

Joe was picked by Kylie after his rendition of Ben Howard's Keep Your Head Up won her round.

Joe said: "Kylie is lovely. She's really down to earth. You hear horror stories about celebrities but she was great, and very hard working. Her ethos of hard work is what I have taken home — if you have a dream and aspirations, don't stop until it happens.

"The best story Kylie ever told me was that in the '80s when she was on Neighbours, she used the little money in her first pay packet to book in time at a recording studio and did her first demo. So despite being offered the TV role first, she still followed her dream to be a singer."

Managed by his father Mike, the 18-year-old from Westhoughton has gigged across the country and the world since appearing on the show — but he loves nothing better than supporting local causes such as Bolton Pride, which he will be performing at on Friday, October 16.

Joe said: "James Edgington got in touch with me and said he and Mark were organising this Pride event in Bolton and I felt it important, as a heterosexual male, to be part of it and show support for an event that symbolises a unification of humanity.

"I played the main stage at the Manchester Pride festival last year so it's great to be asked to do the same in my hometown this year.

"I'll be singing and doing a set at the gala dinner on the Friday night, which I'm really looking forward to."

Joe's single Pick Myself Up is available now via iTunes. His second single Tales of an Old Town — with its music video filmed in Rivington – comes out on August 21.