A Suffolk girl is causing a buzz on the music scene at the age of just 14, as she hopes to follow in the footsteps of the “inspiring” Ed Sheeran.

Gabby Rivers, from Glemsford, is already working on her first EP and has performed at pubs and music venues across the county.

Supported by her proud parents, Gabby has been blown away by the reaction she has had since attending a few open mic events aged just 12.

Now playing guitar, singing and writing her own original songs, Gabby is hoping she can make her musical passion her future career.

“It has been incredible,” she said. “I was 12 when I started to do open mic with some backing tracks.”

East Anglian Daily Times: Gabby Rivers who will be performing at this year's Leestock Festival. Picture: GREGG BROWNGabby Rivers who will be performing at this year's Leestock Festival. Picture: GREGG BROWN

Gabby’s father Leigh Rivers said he is “immensely proud” of his daughter, adding that he was in awe of her talents.

“We don’t play any musical instruments, so we don’t know where she got it from,” he said. “We love music and have been taking her to festivals since she was three years old.

“She has been around that all her life and she would sing along to the music. A friend of mine who works in a recording studio heard her singing and he encouraged us to go to these open mic sessions.

“I am so proud – if she is this good at 14, imagine how good she will be in ten years.”

Gabby now plays in pubs and clubs all over the county, as well as busking in towns in the region.

In 2016 she won the LeeStock Battle of the Bands, earning the prize of opening the popular LeeStock Festival. This year she has been selected to return as a solo act, featuring on the bill alongside Tinchy Stryder, TopLoader, Wheatus and Newton Faulkner.

“It was amazing performing at LeeStock,” Gabby, a Stour Valley Community School pupil, said. “To get through for their tenth year is incredible, I never thought it would happen. It is such a big year for them.”

Mr Rivers said: “She sings, writes songs, plays guitar. She could be Suffolk’s female answer to Ed Sheeran.”

Gabby, who has performed musical theatre at the Royal Albert Hall, said: “I have people like Florence and the Machine and Ed Sheeran who I really look up to. It is inspiring that Ed is from Suffolk. You meet so many people that knew him before he was famous, saying stuff like ‘yeah I went to school with him’.”

You can find Gabby on her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/GABBYMUSIC14/