A TEENAGE singer-songwriter has reached the top three out of 70,000 contestants in an online music competition for the chance to perform at the 02 Academy venue.

Chris Williams, 15, of Common Road, Gilwern has reached the last stage of the competition to win a chance to be the opening act for Mike Dingam who has toured with 5 Seconds of Summer, McBusted and Lawson. The winner of the competition will perform three songs at the 02 Academy in Oxford on July 18.

The Crickhowell High School pupil said: “I’m really proud to be in the top three, it would be a great opportunity to play at the 02 Academy. I would love to play there, it’s a big venue and would be a great experience.

“I love playing to crowds, it’s a brilliant feeling to get a response from a crowd. I played to 10,000 people two weeks ago at the Acoustic Festival of Britain, it was daunting at first but I am used to it now - I love it.”

The teen plays indie and acoustic music under the pseudonym The Attix. He has previously played at the Cork Music Festival week in Ireland in 2013 along with The Festival of Celts.

This year he opened The Acoustic Festival of Britain, which is the largest acoustic festival in Europe, in Uttoxeter.

Chris is next playing the Rustic stage at Weyfest, Farnhan Surrey in August along with Squeeze and The Feeling.

You can see the teen’s cover of Lungs by Mike Dingam at southwalesargus.co.uk. Voting for the online competition ends this Sunday.

For more information visit http://on.fb.me/1lYodnp or facebook.com/theattix