Busker with a big heart backs Rotherham Hospice

A YOUNG musician is hoping to use his talents to raise some much-needed funds for a vital service.

Jake Brown (15) loves to take his guitar and microphone stand into Rotherham town centre to play some of his favourite tunes.

And now the self-taught musician is looking to use his talents for good by raising money for Rotherham Hospice.

Jake (pictured), who first picked up a guitar three years ago, has built up an online following on Instagram where he posts videos of himself performing and busking.

His account, which includes clips of him singing songs by Oasis and Queen, has more than 1,200 followers.

Jake has busked in various locations in the town centre including All Saints’ Square and outside Rotherham Interchange, since his first street performance in May.

“I really like The Beatles and I like listening to Oasis, I play a lot of that as well,” he said.

“A lot of people have been up to me and asked me to perform at various gigs.”

He said he wanted to raise money for Rotherham Hospice because it was a good local cause.

Jake’s grandmother, Lynette Hussain (73), volunteers at Rotherham Hospice and at the charity’s shop in Wickersley.

“I have got a lot of confidence out of performing,” he said.

“It’s helped me get through drama and music at school because it’s helped me perform.”

Jake said he hoped one day to be a professional musician and to study music or drama when he left school.

“I’m hoping to get found out by someone and get a big account on Instagram,” he said.

“I got approached by someone from The Voice Kids but I was too old to go on.”

Jake, a lifelong fan of Rotherham United, said he realised a dream two years ago when he was invited to play live in the fan zone at New York Stadium before a match.

Proud mum Lorraine Brown said Jake was entirely self-taught, having started out by watching video tutorials on Youtube when he was 12.

“He wants to do a bit of busking for charity and see how that works because he usually does quite well out of it,” she said.

“He likes to perform and he loves drama and music.

“He loves a lot of the old stuff and he loves old country music.”

Lorraine said her son had got great feedback when he had been out busking in town.

“A lot of people came out of shops and gave him money,” she said.

“He’s had some really nice responses.

“The reason he chooses the songs he chooses is because he wants to appeal to a broad range.”

Check him out on Instagram or on his Facebook page, where a link to his Hospice fundraiser will soon be added.