Just months after picking up his first guitar, 28-year-old John Roche from Huyton has taken home the top prize at this year’s Primal Live song contest, a major music event supporting local charity The Whitechapel Centre. The talented country artist has been tipped for big things after blowing the audience and judges away.
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Held on Saturday 25th October at the Invisible Wind Factory, the event featured 36 artists and bands and raised over £5,000 for the Liverpool homelessness charity. But it was Roche’s heartfelt performance and raw songwriting that stole the show — and the hearts of everyone in the room — as the hundreds of people in attendance were mesmerised by his stunning songs.
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John’s journey into music began less than a year ago. What started as nervous posts of himself singing on social media soon turned into a passion he couldn’t ignore. In June, he began writing his own songs, and by September, he’d bought his first guitar. Just two months later, he stood on stage at Primal Live — performing live for the very first time.
Despite his inexperience, Roche captivated the audience with two original songs, “All That I Need” and “Weekend Dad.” His emotional delivery and storytelling earned a standing ovation and glowing praise from the judging panel, fellow performers and the crowd alike — with people singing along with him to All That I Need during his celebration performance at the end.
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“He absolutely blew everyone away,” said Primal Live organiser Andy Sampson. “You could feel every word he sang. John has something special — a rare authenticity that connects instantly with people. To think that this was his first ever live performance is astonishing. I’m expecting big things and for us to be hearing him on the radio and in the charts at some point for sure.”
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The victory marks a remarkable turnaround for John, who admits that just a year ago, he was struggling with depression, low confidence and uncertainty about his future. “I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with my life,” John said. “I was in and out of jobs, feeling lost. Then I started singing online, and something just clicked. Music gave me purpose again — it helped me through some really dark times.”
His first song, “All That I Need,” was born out of heartbreak and written as a form of self-healing. That creative spark quickly grew into a passion — John has now written ten songs, with “All That I Need” and “Weekend Dad” being his first completed works. Though still unreleased, John plans to record and release “All That I Need” in the new year, with hopes that his music will bring comfort to others facing tough times.
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Compared by many to country and folk-inspired artists like Luke Combs, Zach Bryan, and Noah Kahan, Roche’s sound blends emotional honesty with relatable storytelling. But for John, success isn’t just about the music — it’s about connection. “My goal now is to make music people can really relate to,” he said. “If my songs can help someone else the way music helped me, that’s all I could ever ask for.”
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From battling depression and self-doubt to winning Primal Live in his first ever live performance, John Roche’s story is one of courage, resilience and the transformative power of music — proving that sometimes, the hardest beginnings lead to the brightest stages. Keep your eyes peeled, as the next big Liverpool star is well and truly in the making.
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