RISING star Justine Blaszk has won the opportunity to perform at one of the biggest music festivals in the Borders next month.

The 17-year-old singer-songwriter, from Lauder, will open the show for headliner Karine Polwart at Innerleithen Music Festival on August 15.

She was named joint winner, along with Peebles High School duo Morgan Davidson, 16, and Ross Anderson, 15, at the grand final of the String Jam Club's Rising Star competition at the Salmon Inn in Galashiels on Friday night.

The teenage trio also won free studio time at Borders-based Sound Station to record 100 copies of a three-track CD of their music.

Flute player Freya Rae and guitarist Graeme Armstrong, from Jedburgh, won a special prize - £50 of gift vouchers from Merlin Music in Melrose - for their performance.

But the judges - local musicians Bob Lawson and Rod Ward, along with Border Telegraph reporter Ally McGilvray - revealed all seven of the young finalists were deserved winners.

Jenny Anderson, from Melrose; Matthew Riddel from Stow; Triphazard from Innerleithen, Jedburgh duo Freya Rae and Graeme Armstrong; and Borders Got Talent winner Naomi Chapman, will be given an opportunity to play on the String Jam Club stage at the three-day festival on August 16.

Selkirk-based singer-songwriter Allie Fox, who organised the competition along with local folk star Kathy Stewart, said: "Everyone was brilliant and we look forward to hearing all of them perform at the Innerleithen Music Festival next month." ** In the video below Justine Blaszk performs her original song about dads - and the things they say. Justine is joint winner of the 'Rising Star Project' music competition organised by Innerleithen Music Festival. The final took place at the String Jam Club, Galashiels.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huR5djH0ao8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heSY-m2sWvo