Chorley teenager could become Guitar Star on hit Sky TV show

Jake Heaton (far left) pictures with fellow contestants and judges for the Guitar Star show on Sky Arts.

Jake Heaton, 15, from Brinscall, near Chorley, was shown as one of the final five musicians in the second episode of Sky’s Guitar Stars, which aired on Tuesday.

The programme shows the St Michael’s School pupil competing against guitarists of all ages and genres by playing to judges, being mentored by legendary figures and performing at famous venues.

So far, the youngster has been seen playing and having lessons with Tony Iommi, founding member of Black Sabbath, Jamiroquai’s guitarist Toby Smith and jazz guitarist George Benson at the famous Church Road Studios.

GUITAR STAR 2016 - Series 2 - Episode 7 Jake Heaton. CREDIT: SKY ARTS

Jake, who has been playing the guitar since he was four, said he was ‘thrilled’ to be involved with the show.

He said: “It is a great experience and privilege to have met and played with all these world-famous musicians.

“I applied for the show when Sky contacted my guitar teacher, Mark Eastham, from The Lost Chord music, asking if he had any good guitarists.

“He said, ‘No, but I have a great one’, and gave them my mum’s details.

Jake Heaton from Brinscall has made it into the final few contestants on Guitar Star TV talent show on Sky Arts. Pictured with his four-piece band from Chorley, The Lost Chord

“I am now studying my diploma in music with Mark and hopefully I will go to Newman College and then to the Manchester Royal School of Music. As I have said on one episode of Guitar Star my aim is with my band to sell out the desert but if not Wembley Stadium will do.”

In his spare time, Jake is part of a four-piece soft rock band called The Lost Chord – with the other teenage members all being from Chorley. The band have played a number of gigs, including birthday parties, weddings, pubs, clubs, colleges, outdoor events and festivals.

Jake, who plays both classical and rock guitar music, has also played solo at venue such as the Fulwood Bowling Club, where he raised £150 for St Catherine’s Hospice.

The teenager was up against thousands of other undiscovered guitarists when he auditioned for the television show at the Royal Festival Hall in London at Easter.

While being shortlisted, he also performed at Koko’s nightclub in Camden, London. Dad Stuart Heaton said: “We are so proud of Jake and this has made my wife and I realise what a fantastic guitarist he is.”

The winner of the talent show will then be named the ‘Guitar Star’ and perform live at Latitude Festival.

Guitar Star is shown every Tuesday at 8pm on the Sky Arts channel.