A teenage singer with a talent for fundraising will preview her first album when she takes to the stage for a two-day festival of music at a busy shopping centre.
Thirteen-year-old Roma Nicholson has recorded the self-penned songs at her home in Pinewood, Ipswich and will release the CD Teen Spirit at the end of October.
However visitors to Sailmakers Shopping Centre in Ipswich will get a preview of the album this weekend.
The St Alban’s Catholic High School student will close Saturday’s performances at 3.30pm and then open day two of the event at noon on Sunday with a second set.
Last year Roma raised £4,500 for the Ipswich Winter Night Shelter for the homeless and this year is going even better, as she has already exceeded that total and has set a target of £6,000.
This will go towards 4YP Suffolk Young People’s Health Project, East Anglia Children’s Hospice and the Winter Night Shelter, where her mum, Rosa, volunteers.
She has also reached the last six of the UK Open Mic Songwriters competition at the NEC Birmingham and been acclaimed as an Ipswich Town FC Community Champion.
She said: “It’s amazing to see the money going into the charities which do such fantastic work.
“I loved performing at Sailmakers last year and it’s an honour to be asked to perform on both days. I’m really looking forward to going back there again, I absolutely loved it.
“I’ll probably do a couple of songs from the new album which I’ve recorded at home and it’s a mixture with some ballads, dance and rock, a real mix.”
Mike Sorhaindo, manager of Sailmakers Shopping Centre, said: “It’s great to have Roma back again and this year we’ve got a great line-up for the two days.
“There are so many talented musicians in Ipswich so it’s fantastic to be able to showcase them here and to stage an event that makes a trip to the shops something special.”
Roma’s debut album Teen Spirit, price £8, will feature 10 original songs and will be launched at The Railway pub on Sunday, October 28.
All proceeds will go direct to charity.
The album will be available to purchase online from her website www.romasworld.co.uk or to download from October 28 on iTunes, Amazon music, Spotify and other online music platforms.
The Acoustic Stage at the Sailmakers begins at noon each day, Saturday and Sunday, with The Sax Man, David Walker, opening on the first day when the lineup includes Morgan Beard, Rob Lewis, Ellen, Sophie Hanson, The Heuristics and Roma.
On Sunday Roma is up first, followed by Harriet Snook. Stu Philpott, Nadine Dixon, James Nunn, Andy Martino and Noah Evans.
The performances will close at 4pm each day of the weekend which will also feature student offers and promotions and festival-style face painting.
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