Exclusive: 'X Factor's Nicolo Festa announces gig

X Factor contestant Nicolo Festa has announced that he is to play a showcase gig this weekend.

The singer, who was the first act to be voted off the programme after a poorly received rendition of Lady GaGa's 'Just Dance', will play a live show in London this weekend.

Festa also insisted that his new music has a rockier edge that 'defines him and his style'.

He told Digital Spy: "Contrary to what I might tweet, I'm actually still singing and working very hard.

"I've been in the studio with the folk from AZTEC Records and am working on some songs that really define me and my music style. I love the rock and roll from the '70s; Linda Ronstadt, Queen, Warren Zevon and those types of songs, but also funkier stuff like Talking Heads, Human League, Michael Jackson and Roisin Murphy to name a few."

Discussing his stint on The X Factor, he said: "Let's just say Simon Cowell and his team, for understandable reasons, would never let me be who I wanted to be on the show. That's okay though - I learned a lot."

Festa plays Hoxton's The Workshop on Sunday April 17.