A TALENTED singer is counting on local people to help him to hit the big time.

Cian Gleeson, aged 17, from Horwich, is one of the unsigned artists shortlisted to perform on the main stage at this summer year’s Key103 Summer Live.

The Bolton News reported this month how the former St Joseph’s RC High School pupil has released the single Losing Game, which he wrote himself, with the help of his tutors at Salford City College.

Cian is a current student at the college’s FutureSkills centre at MediaCityUK, which specialises in creative music.

As part of the specialist offer and industry-standard facilities at the centre, Cian’s single has been recorded, produced and released in-house at FutureSkills by his tutors, with help from Cian and his fellow students.

He has recently been featured on Key103, along with presenter Adam Catterall, as part of their launch of Stagecoach’s Route 38 bus which is the first of its kind to cross the breadth of Manchester.

Now he has the chance to feature at the summer concert and perform in front of more than 13,000.

Cian, who has been performing since he was a youngster and is studying rock school creative music at level three, said: “It feels like being on the brink of something big. To be shortlisted was such a relief. I wanted it so much and still do. It was like a weight of my shoulder when they called my name.

“I don’t think I could put into words what I would feel if I won.

“It would catapult me on to a different platform. It would be such a great opportunity.”

He added: “I think the song is slightly different, and has an element of pop in it.

“I am releasing another single in July called FWB which is upbeat and would if I won perform that as well.”

To listen to Cian and to vote for him visit key103.co.uk/summerlive/futurestars/ or text STAR37 (space) 1 to 70070.

The winner of the competition will be the artist or group who receives the highest number of text votes by 13:00 on Friday 4th July 2014.

All text votes will include a donation of £1 to Key103’s Cash For Kids.