A RISING star has included Barrasford on her UK-wide tour.

One of the North-East’s top pop prospects, Channy Thompson (23), is scheduled to play the likes of London, Glasgow, Leeds and Newcastle, but will take time out of her busy schedule to visit the tiny North Tyne village.

Having visited Barrasford recently to sing for the village’s Scouts, she was touched by the friendliness of the area, so a return trip was high on her list.

Channy will put on an event showcasing the huge amount of local talent in the Tyne Valley at the March 11 gig, supported by local singers Amy Ridley, Harry Weatherhead, Harriet Hobrough and Josh Dronfield.

She said: “I went to do a gig for the Scouts and they loved it and were just so cute, so I wanted to come back and it fits in perfectly with the tour.

“Of all the shows, I’m looking forward to this one more than most because the tickets sold out straight away. We had to put the capacity up within a day, so I’m really excited to go there.

“What will be nice too is that there’ll be other singers from the local area performing, so it will be a good local event.”

Having only started singing four years ago, the progress Channy has made has been remarkable. And 2017 promises to be her breakthrough year.

Barrasford is one of 10 dates nationwide throughout March, with the big one coming up on May 26, when she will headline at the O2 Academy in Newcastle.

Gaining a prominent billing at one of the North-East’s biggest music venues is a major achievement for Channy, who is relishing the opportunity.

She said: “Last April, I did my first headline show in a little comedy club in Newcastle which holds 200 people and that sold out. I then went to the small room in the O2, and that sold out too.

“I’d always said I’d start small and then build it up, so I wanted to go to the main room at the O2.

“I wanted to do so much, production wise, in the smaller room but was told that it could only happen in an arena; now I have that opportunity to think more outside the box and challenge myself through my performance.

“It’s probably the most excited I have ever been for anything. I’ve done amazing things before, but I have total control over this and I have to make things happen now, so I’m getting a real buzz for it.”

Following the O2 appearance, Channy will spend four months working with industry experts in America as she prepares for big things around the corner.

And she is hoping to keep carving out the experiences she has enjoyed in recent times, including a performance at the Metro Radio Arena, where she shared the stage with mainstream acts such as Olly Murs and Sigala.

Channy said: “I’ve played in an arena, so I’m not settling for anything other than an arena tour!

“The goal is to get signed to a label and get into the charts. It would be the dream for people to know your name and be recognised when you’re at the shops. But I’d hate not to be able to go to the shop in my pyjamas!”

March tour dates: Sunderland (3); Newcastle (4); South Tyneside (10); Barrasford (11); London (12); Teesside (17); North Tyneside (24); Glasgow (25); Leeds (26); Durham (31).