Dan Furniss
Dave Barton
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THE competition was tight and the judges were left with difficult choices at the second semi-final of Talent Trail 2008.
But after the nine acts had taken to the stage at The Willows Club in Holderness Road, east Hull, only two could walk away victorious.
In the top spot was father-of-two Dan Furniss, who wowed the judges with his performance.The DFS warehouse worker, of Sutton Park, east Hull, took to the stage with his version of Roy Orbison’s Crying, got the crowd’s feet tapping to Jackie Wilson’s Your Love Keeps Lifting Me Higher and belted out the Commitments’ Try A Little Tenderness.
Dan, 32, will now line up with the other finalists at Hull City Hall on Thursday, May 1.
He said: “I’m amazed I got through, there were so many fantastic acts. I’m blown away. I really didn’t expect it, but I am massively happy. The final will be tough and everyone is going to have to step up their game.”
In an evening of close calls, the keyboard-playing skills of Dave Barton, 20, of Strathmore Avenue, north Hull, came in second. |
Offering the crowd something a little different, he played Everybody Loves You Now by Billy Joel, I Wish by Stevie Wonder and, in a brave move, showed his true talent with a rendition of Jools Holland’s Jump For Joy.
Dave, who is taking a year out of education and working at the city centre Staples store, said: “It was really tough, but really great as well. The competition has been brilliant so far and I have enjoyed myself. I’m a little nervous, but definitely looking forward to the final – I can’t wait. I was quite surprised when I heard my name, but it was a great feeling.”
Also competing in the semi-final was Monty, 42, who entertained the crowd with his comedy-cabaret act; Jamie A, 18, who travelled from Leeds for the competition; Dave Lee, 23, from Greenwood Avenue, north Hull, who mixed the old and the contemporary; guitar-playing John Copley, 21; and 57-year-old Otis.
This was all before Damien Balthazar, 35, of Sculcoates Lane, Hull, shook the walls of the Willows Club with a trio of rock songs and seasoned professional Peter Kind, 46, of George Street, city centre, showed his pedigree and narrowly missed out on the final. |
Monty
Jamie A
Dave Lee
John Copley
Otis
Damian Balthazar
Peter Kind
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