James Beresford (l) jams with Gunnar Burts at Mac’s on Main last month Gunnar Burts has experienced something that not many 12 year olds have. Last month, Burts took the stage in front of a full house at Mac’s on Main and impressed the audience with a performance of BB King’s The Thrill is Gone. “I couldn’t keep his mom in her seat,” Richard Burts, Gunnar’s father, said. She wasn’t the only one moved by Gunnar’s skill. The entire house gave a standing ovation and requested an encore.

Burts, who has only been playing the electric guitar for eight months, was reluctant at first to go on stage. “They had to push me up there,” he said. “It was so nerve-wracking; I couldn’t see a thing.”

Burts’ guitar instructor, James Beresford, was the person who urged Burts to perform with him. Beresford, professional guitarist and leader of James Beresford and the Capital Funk, wanted Burts to have the experience. “I knew he was ready,” Beresford said. “It was good for him. After the first few chords, I couldn’t get him off stage.”

Burts has dedicated himself to developing his skills. He practices one to two hours on school days and seven to eight hours during the summer months. “It just looked so cool,” he said. “That’s why I wanted to start playing.”

Burts had to beg and plead with his parents for three months to take lessons. They finally gave in and bought him an electric guitar, an ideal choice for beginning guitarists according to Beresford.

Now that Burts has had a taste of performance adrenaline, he is eager to do it again. “He is very talented,” Beresford said. “He has a fearless attitude about it.”

Beresford plans to invite Burts on stage again during a jam session at the fountain at Five Points next Thursday evening as part of the Five Points at Five series.