HE HAS already performed to an audience of hundreds at Hull City Hall.
But now Anlaby teenager Sam Arkut is taking to the stage of the O2 Arena in London.
The stage has played host to famous faces from across the music industry, including Michael Bublé and, last night, Madness.
Now, it is the turn of Sam, 19, thanks to the Open Mic UK competition.
Sam said: "I am absolutely over the moon – I can't believe it.
"I definitely want to play my very best.
"If I don't end up winning, at least I will have played the O2 Arena.
"Just being able to play at that venue is amazing."
Sam played at Hull City Hall earlier this year when he earned his place in the final of the Mail's Star Search competition.
He then entered the national Open Mic UK contest and got through to the northern England and Scotland regional final in Dewsbury in November.
Unfortunately, he was not placed in the top three, who immediately went through to the grand final at the O2. However, he did receive a judges' award for his songwriting.
After the regional final, audiences were invited to text vote, to get one more act through as a "wildcard".
Thanks to all his supporters texting Open Mic UK, Sam learned he got through as a wildcard earlier this week. He said: "They said they would announce it at noon on Wednesday and I knew I'd been at the top of the leader board earlier in the week.
"But I was waiting about 45 minutes and still hadn't heard anything.
"Then my mate contacted me and said they had announced it on Twitter.
"I couldn't believe it."
At £1 per text, Sam knows he owes a few celebratory pints to the people who supported him.
He said: "I'm happy I'm going to the O2 but I'm also relieved I won't have to nag people to text anymore.
"I think a lot of my friends have sent quite a few texts, so there will be some expensive phone bills."
Sam writes his own songs and plays guitar. He also writes his own material and has performed his songs on local radio.
He said: "I thought it would be good to perform my own songs for the Open Mic UK final.
"But because I've only just found out, I'm not sure what the details are yet.
"Hopefully, I can perform my own material – perhaps two songs."
Sam has been singing and playing guitar since he was in his early teens.
He now regularly performs at open mic nights and music festivals in the Humber region, inbetween studying for his degree in sports coaching at the University of Hull.
He said: "I wanted to go out and celebrate the night I found out I was through.
"Unfortunately, I had an exam the next day, so I was revising.
"I'm sure there will be a big celebration though.
"Playing at the O2 is a once-in-a-lifetime thing."
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