A country singer who only started singing in local pubs a year ago is celebrating after being awarded a slot at a prestigious event at The 02.

James Dunne, from Gillingham, will be performing next weekend at the famous Country to Country (C2C) Festival at the illustrious music venue in Greenwich, London.

Speaking to KentOnline ahead of the event, James, who started his performing career at The Mole Hole in Gravesend last year, said: “C2C is the biggest and most iconic country music festival in the UK and to be invited to play amongst some of America’s most established country recording artists and represent the best of UK Country music is a great honour.”

The 35-year-old came to the music scene late in life having carved out a career for himself in the army but says it is his time in the forces which has had the biggest influence on his songwriting.

“All my material to date has been quite sombre as I need to get a lot of angst and buried feelings out first before I can open up the throttle to explore other feelings in my songwriting,” he explained.

James’ first single “Duty”, was released in 2022 and is nod to his time in service.

He described his songs as a diary of thoughts, almost like therapy.

Growing up listening to country legend Johnny Cash, James said he follows the ethos of his hero when it comes to writing songs.

He added: “His main tagline was three chords and the truth. Country music is about brutal honest storytelling. If you ain’t lived it then you shouldn’t be singing about it.

“You have to walk that line if you want to try and do it right.”

The military man says his music is different to the country music you hear on the radio.

“There are different subgenres of country,” he said. “I don’t do pop country which is what generally gets played on the radio.”

And he had stern words for Beyonce’s new single which he accused of not being real country.

“Putting a banjo on a track does not make it country,” he joked.

In the past year James has appeared regularly at The Mole Hole, a micropub in Gravesend where his first open mic gig was broadcast live to BBC talent show The Voice.

Although James didn’t get a call back he did get invited to return to the pub and has developed a group of die-hard fans he has dubbed “The Mole Hole massive”.

“They come everywhere with me,” he said. “They are a great support.”

In the past year James has also secured a residency at The Boogalou in North London, where Amy Winehouse and The Libertines performed and has appeared at a number of festivals.

He has a constant string of dates lined up this year but is realistic about his prospects.

“I’m just going to keep the momentum going,” he added. “I have got the chance to carry on and progress and just see what happens.”

James is excited about Country 2 Country which features artists from the UK, Europe and America and is looking forward to having his music heard by a new group of possible fans.

“It was a shock to get it,” he said. “But if you don’t ask you don’t get.”

The ex-service personnel has been offered two dates at the weekend festival and will be appearing on the Observatory stage.

Holding down a full-time job as a heavy plant fitter, James has managed to make an EP called Black Train, which is available on Spotify and is hoping to make an album soon.

Over the next few months he has a number of festivals lined up including the Country on the Coast Festival in Southsea on April 13 and Farmers’ Summer Festival in Stoke on May 5.

James will perform at C2C on Friday, March 8 and Saturday, March 9.