Soul singer Katy Shotter to play Fairfield Halls

Katy, 25, has toured both The UK and USA with RnB super-star Beyonce Knowles, playing a packed Wembley Stadium, Las Vegas and Madison Square Gardens after winning reality TV singing contest Chancers.

Now, back in her home town after a rollercoaster five years, the 25-year-old is stepping out on her own.

She says: “I live in Coulsdon, I’m a local girl. Some people get caught up in the whole living in the US and touring abroad; the musician’s lifestyle but when I come home this is where it all started and i draw fresh inspiration from it - it brings me back to earth.”

A Warlingham High School and Warlingham College pupil, Katy, who has played piano since age thee, was working at Burtons on Croydon High Street and doing temporary work with the council when she was picked to enter US show Chancers.

“It was run by Beyonce’s dad Mathew. We flew out to Houston and immediately I was picked to fly to New York to work with musician John Legend. The whole thing was incredible.”

After winning she began touring with Beyonce, first in the UK, and then was invited to join her in the USA.

She says: “After the first concert she came up behind me and gave a hug saying thanks - all this stuff I though I should be saying to her.”

However after four years first with Sony and then with Knowles’ record label World Music Entertainment Katy has struck out on her own and is loving the freedom Working with Hip Hop group Attaca Pesante, who helped record her demo for show Chancers in 2006, she has produced four singles with one due for release before Christmas.

The soul and blues musician has also built a pulled a band around her, including brother of Jools Holand, Chris, and is preparing to play the Fairfield Halls next month.

Katy Shotter will be at The Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon on Wednesday November 9 from 7.30pm Tickets cost £16, call 0208 688 9291 to book