Former Ilkley schoolboy Adam Couldwell is about to fulfil a dream -- playing to 25,000 country music fans in Nashville, the home of Country & Western.

The 19-year-old has been selected to represent Europe at this year's Fan Fair celebrations, described as the Cannes Film Festival of country music.

Although tipped as one of Britain's "hottest'' country acts with pop crossover potential, he admits that Nashville will be a big step up for him.

For the first time Fan Fair has an international section with places for only four artists outside America. Adam will be the only artist representing Europe.

"It's a fantastic honour,'' he said. "People go there every year from this country.

"It's a big leap for me. I usually play in front of maybe 1,000 people and the most I have performed in front of is 4,000 - so playing in front an audience of 25,000 is going to be quite an experience. I'm nervous already.

"The British are more honest about what they think, whereas the Americans are so nice and so pleasant you don't know if you are good or bad. They are really enthusiastic and more forgiving."

Adam was filmed during a previous visit to Nashville as part of the documentary Britain's Richest Kids.

Last year he signed a five album deal with London-based Focus Music International and is on the same label as stars such as Tom Jones.

He already has a string of achievements to his name, including a gold disc after the Ultimate Country compilation sold 100,000 copies worldwide. It stars the likes of Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton and features When Soul Meets Soul, a song he wrote when he was just 13.

A second compilation album, Country, on which he sang the Queen hit Crazy Little Thing Called Love also achieved gold.

He added: "I find inspiration easy. Most of the ideas come to me on the train riding down to London where I spend a lot of time. I write about anything that crops up but most of it comes back to love. I have had girlfriends but there's no-one at the moment because I'm so tied up trying to get things done."

When he is not working he likes to relax playing golf, which he has taken up over the last 18 months.

He also likes to catch up with old friends from Yorkshire.

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