100 UK gigs an Olympic vision

He's not competing as an athlete at the London Olympics but Tauranga's Rory Malone is using his musical skills to be part of the Olympic festivities.

The 19-year-old singer and songwriter will follow the Olympic flame around the UK with the aim of playing 100 gigs from the north of Scotland to the south of England in six months.

"I love performing and getting out on stage, especially when you sing a song that people know and they sing it back to you, that's what I really love."

The aspiring musician has played the guitar since he was 12. He was part of the band A Kiss Goodbye for five years and, during that time, the band performed gigs in New Zealand and twice toured the United Kingdom.

He's using his contacts abroad, as well as a bit of help from his father (who used to be a band manager and European tour organiser), to help him secure gigs. So far he's booked 70 gigs - some intimate performances to a crowd of 50, others music festivals with thousands of revellers and official Olympic entertainment shows.

"There's been a lot of midnight phone calls and that's been tough, probably more so for my dad ... but we've had a lot of positive feedback and people seem really keen on it."

To fund his tour, Malone has worked 60 hours a week in two jobs for the past 12 months. While overseas, he won't get paid for performances but will be given a place to stay and food.

While in Britain, he will also release his debut self-titled EP that has five tracks. He co-writes his songs with his sister and will play a combination of original and covers songs while abroad.

Malone, who is due to leave New Zealand on Sunday, said he still got nervous before going on stage.

"It's hard to explain but it's like that strange feeling when you're 12 and you have your first boyfriend or girlfriend and you have butterflies about what you're going to say. [Being on stage] is exciting because you don't know what's going to happen but everything always comes together at the end and even if it doesn't, I still have a really good time."

In 2008, A Kiss Goodbye opened for international rock group Panic! At the Disco in front of 11,000 people at Vector Arena. The band - now disbanded - had opened for Midnight Youth, Goodnight Nurse and Nesian Mystik.

To follow Malone, visit his website www.rorymalone.info