Gillingham singer Jamie Johnson performs at The Barge pub ahead of The Voice final
09:01, 01 April 2014
Singer Jamie Johnson has gone back to his roots ahead of The Voice final this weekend.
The 19-year-old enjoyed a party at The Barge pub, in Gillingham, where he first started gigging yesterday.
The bash was filmed by the BBC and the footage will be part of the final show on Saturday, when Jamie will be competing to be crowned 2014 winner.
The pub in Layfield Road was packed with family, friends and fans as Jamie turned up in his trademark yellow Mini.
He was greeted by cheers from the crowd and kisses from mum Sharla and sister Jessica. Jamie posed for pictures and signed autographs before getting on stage.
Jamie performed Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me, which he sang in the semi-final.
His emotional rendition on Saturday earned him the most public votes for Kylie Minogue's team and a place in the top four.
After Jamie's performance on the show, Kylie said: "Now I'm finding it hard to speak. I try my best to keep strong for my guys, but now that you've performed I may fall to pieces.
"You deliver every time and it was so beautiful to hear you sing something so emotional."
Video: Jamie Johnson is set to perform in the finals of The Voice UK on the BBC at 7pm tonight
Fellow judge Will.i.am said: "I think you made everyone love the way you were singing. Great song selection, great elegant set up, you executed it flawlessly."
Sir Tom Jones chipped in with: “He made it his own, and it was really strong. To be 19 years old and sing with that emotion, it’s as though you’ve lived that song”.
And Ricky Wilson continued: "Honestly, it was such an open and honest lyric. It made us really see you, with nothing to hide behind, and I wanted to see that from you."
Jamie will be up against Sally Baker, Christina Marie Wickens and Jermaine Jackman in the final which airs on Saturday at 7pm on BBC One.
The Star pub in Gillingham, where Jamie has also performed in the past, will be holding a Voice party on Saturday. The pub in Watling Street will be showing the live final on its big screens and the bar has been decorated with support Jamie posters.
Laura Boult, from the pub, said: "As a regular act at The Star we have supported him from the start and want to do something big to celebrate him being in the final."
