A MUSICIAN who runs an open mike night at the Lord Eldon is to support Elton John at the singer’s New Year’s Eve party.

Guitarist David Boardman, 35, and his band Sealife will play on the same bill as the pop legend in front of 20,000 people at London’s O2 Arena.

“I thought it was a joke at first,” he said.

“It’s pretty hard to take in. Elton John’s such a massive name and I’ve personally been a fan of his for years.”

Sealife songwriter Ben Beer, 34, was signed to Elton John’s label Twenty First Artists, which represents artists such as Lily Allen and James Blunt.

But he asked bosses whether he could form a band rather than be a solo artist and invited university friend Mr Boardman, and two other musicians, to join him.

“We always said it would be great to be in a band together one day,” said Mr Boardman.

Sealife, formed in the autumn, have played five gigs in London and their performances were enough to convince the label that they could support Elton John, who has enjoyed more than 50 top 40 hits.

“He’s not been to see us, although apparently he likes the music and he’s been taking a keen interest in what we’ve been doing,” said Mr Boardman.

“Our music is very anthemic. It sounds like the sort of music that should be played in an arena so it ought to sound good.”

Mr Boardman, who has lived in Longridge for 13 years, has played alongside artists such as Bob Geldof and former Spice Girl Mel C with his bands Roller and Parade.

But he said the number of people in the O2 Arena would be five times more than he had ever played before.

“Because of our ages and because pop music is a young man’s game, to a certain extent this is the last roll of the dice,” said Mr Boardman.

“It’s got to count. It should get our name known a lot more.”

Sealife already have 5,200 friends on social networking site Myspace, and they will play at a music festival in America in March.

They hope to record their debut release in the New Year.

Mr Boardman, though, is not interested in becoming a celebrity rock star.

“The most important thing for us would be to make a classic album, not be on the front cover of Hello magazine,” he said.

“It’s something you think more about when you’re younger, being rich and famous. At the moment I’d just settle for being rich.”