A little ray of sunshine will be performing at this week’s Will Young concert in Rochester and jazz fans will be in for a real treat.

Fresh from the bustling underground music scene, singer and songwriter Ray Estaire, 29, will be on stage supporting both Gabrielle and Will before their sets.

Ray, who grew up in London but has been recording her tracks at the Foundry Studio at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham, has been performing since an early age and says her set will be a 'colourful jazz experience' for music lovers.

The gig, the biggest one she’s performed at so far, is being staged on Thursday in the Castle Gardens and Ray is excited about it.

Speaking exclusively to the Medway Messenger, Ray said: “This is the biggest gig I’ve had so far. I have performed at a few festivals abroad and at the Jazz Cafe, but not on this scale.

"I am excited more than anything."

Growing up with a mother as a vocal coach and pianist saw her start singing at an early age.

She later attended a performing arts school in Camden, then a scholarship to study jazz at the prestigious Guildhall School Of Music and Drama, where she got a first in Music and she is now been recording her tracks with the University Of Kent Record Label, after being head-hunted by the label.

The up and-coming singer will be on stage performing range of jazz covers which she is rearranging in her own style and will also be performing two of her original tracks.

She added: “I will also be performing a well known Bruno Mars track, but will put my own jazz style on it."

With a background combining Jamaican, Native American, and Scottish ancestry Ray has also been influenced by Gabrielle who will be on stage after her.

She added: “She is an amazing artist and her music is timeless, she’s aspiring. “

“I promise those who come to the concert will be getting a colourful jazz experience from me.”

The castle concert series kicks off tomorrow night with Status Quo which will see bass player John ‘Rhino’ Edwards’ son Freddie stepping in alongside Francis Rossi as a temporary replacement for Rick Parfitt, who is still recovering from a heart attack.

The gig, which also features Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, is sold out.

On Thursday, it’s the turn of Will Young, supported by Gabrielle.

Speaking previously about his return to Rochester, he said: “Creatively it’s going to be quite mad – it’s either genius or it’s horrific! It’s kind of a homage to Kurt Cobain and then some disco stuff and confetti. I’m not sure what else I’m doing but I know it’s going to be brilliant.”

Gabrielle will be performing for Will that night and will treat the crowd to all her chart-toppers as well as new material in an acoustic set.

Fresh from touring with Michael Bolton, who previously headlined at the Castle Concerts series, she said: “Over the years I have performed quite a few open-air gigs, here and abroad. The atmosphere is electric, so I am really excited about coming. I’ve not long come off tour and have now got the taste for it again as it’s such fun.”

Friday’s sell-out evening of soul classics will feature Clem Curtis of the Foundations singing Build Me Up Buttercup and Baby Now That I’ve Found You; Gwen Dickey, the voice of Rose Royce, performing Car Wash and Wishing on a Star while Jimmy James, of Jimmy James and the Vagabonds, presents Now is the Time and I’ll Go Where the Music Takes Me.

Added to the line-up will be Soul Legends, who will play hits by the likes of Aretha Franklin, James Brown and Earth Wind & Fire.

And Saturday sees the return of the traditional Castle Proms, this year with a special theme.

The evening will be celebrating 300 years of the Royal Engineers and will feature musicians from the Royal Engineers Band and the Countess of Wessex Strings playing orchestral favourites.

Dancing water fountains and a firework finale will be part of the fun as will the chance to indulge in some patriotic flag waving.

To get your hands on tickets, visit tickets.medway.gov.uk