Teenager prepares for biggest gig of her life (From Your Local Guardian)

Purley teen will take to the stage alongside a pop star who sang with Beyonce

9:14am Tuesday 8th November 2011 in Music

Plucked from obscurity and playing open mic sessions in the pub a teenager is preparing to support a pop star who has sung with Beyonce Knowles.

Lily Kenny, a Woodcote High School pupil who began teaching herself guitar 18 months ago will play in front of up to 750 people at the Ashcroft Theatre, opening for soul singer Katy Shotter on Wednesday November 9.

She says: “I have been practising like mad. It is quite scary but the lights will be on me so I won’t really be able to see anyone anyway.”

The Purley teenager, who mainly plays open mic sessions at The Jolly Farmer Pub, was picked after impressing friends of the pop star playing at Landsdown Lounge in Croydon.

Lily’s mum Jan says: “It came completely out of the blue. It is great for Lily because she’s her own biggest critic, She sings at family occasions or I’ll be downstairs listening to her in her room and think she sounds amazing but she’s never really believed it.”

Shotter is another local girl, living in Coulsdon, who shot to fame after winning the chance to appear on an American reality TV show with Beyonce Knowles.

This led to a US and UK tour, before she split with Knowles’s father’s record company and went solo.

Lily is hoping this chance propels her career forward, but not too far into the limelight.

She says: “Obviously these things are great because you get the chance to make a name for yourself, and I’d love to make a career out of music but I wouldn’t want to be so famous you can’t go out without people recognising you.”

Lily Kenny will be playing the Ashcroft Theatre, Fairfield Halls from 7.30pm Wednesday November 9 ahead of Katy Shotter.

Tickets cost £16 call 0208 688 9291 to order