Joshua Knight’s Journey from Student to Touring Guitarist

Former East Sussex College student Joshua Knight has turned his lifelong passion for music into a thriving career as a professional guitarist, bass player, and concert producer.

Based in the South East, Joshua has performed and toured across the UK with cover and tribute bands, played in pit orchestras for musical theatre productions, and launched his own music production company, Jam Soup Music.

Since going fully freelance in July 2024, Joshua’s career has gone from strength to strength. He’s performed with renowned tribute acts including Oasish and The Fleetwood Mac Songbook, taking on the Lindsey Buckingham role on lead guitar and vocals, as well as playing rhythm guitar for the As We Were theatre show.

He also plays with Overdrive, a Sussex-based classic rock cover band celebrating the music of legends like Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, and David Gilmour.

“This last year, I have been depping for The Fleetwood Mac Songbook,” said Joshua. “That has been great fun playing in theatres up and down the country from Yorkshire to Cornwall and the musicians have been very supportive from the get-go. I’ve also loved learning all the Lindsey Buckingham and Peter Green parts which are a treat to play and sing. I have also set up my own group, The Album Era, this year and the shows we’ve done so far have been successful.”

Joshua studied at the East Sussex Academy of Music (ESAM), where he began developing the skills that now define his career. While there, he arranged music for a 20-piece session band and studied music technology and production - experiences that helped him build a strong foundation for his professional work.

“ESAM unlocked possibilities for me which would have seemed completely alien at secondary school,” Joshua told the College. “Although I was on the BTEC course, I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to arrange for and play in the session band as well as sing with the choir, Academy Voices and in a barber shop quartet. I went from just being a guitarist to a more disciplined and well-rounded musician.”

Joshua says some of his favourite memories came from performing live during his time at college.

“I loved a lot of the BTEC modules - the event management module was great fun and anything performance related was always enjoyable, especially playing with the twenty-piece session band. Performing with a band that big and of such high standards was a buzz.”

Alongside his studies, Joshua gained hands-on industry experience working at Bella Union Records in Brighton, co-running events for artists including John Grant, Penelope Isles, and Jonathan Wilson.

After college, he joined Resident Music, managing the shop floor team and helping to run album release events for acts like Ezra Collective, Fatboy Slim, and Johnny Marr - one of Joshua’s own guitar heroes.

“ESAM always had a family feel to it,” said Joshua. “All my tutors were extremely supportive and knowledgeable, and they encouraged creativity and development. They always pushed us to develop our musicianship and to be open-minded about what performance opportunities were out there.”

In 2024, Joshua founded The Album Era – a new live concert series where musicians perform classic albums in full. The first shows, launching in 2025, will feature Bruce Springsteen’s Born To Run and David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, performed in their entirety.

“I have always loved the concept of hearing a record from start to finish, the way the artist intended. The Album Era gives musicians and audiences the chance to really dive into these iconic albums and experience them live as complete works - not just as greatest hits.”

Joshua’s style is shaped by guitar icons including George Harrison, David Gilmour, Johnny Marr, and Lindsey Buckingham. He’s also passionate about slide guitar and acoustic fingerpicking, techniques he’s spent countless hours mastering.

“George Harrison got me playing guitar in the first place but my influences are mostly all the old-school players - David Gilmour, Johnny Marr, Jimmy Page and Mick Ronson have all been pretty key. I’ve also been inspired by guitarists such as Derek Trucks and John Martyn, however I have not found the time yet to sit down and deconstruct the intricacy of what they do!”

Alongside performing and producing, Joshua also offers private guitar, bass, and ukulele lessons, helping musicians of all ages develop their confidence and technique. His dedication to both performance and teaching shows his commitment to supporting the next generation of musical talent.

“The best way to learn and develop your own skills is to teach!” Joshua said. “I learn so much from preparing lessons for my students. As they grow with their playing, their questions about guitar become more and more interesting. I love being on their musical journey with them and also being able to use the music they love to develop their technique and musical knowledge.”

Reflecting on his journey, Joshua’s story is an inspiring reminder of where passion, perseverance, and creativity can lead. From arranging music at college to producing his own national concert series, his career is a testament to the power of following your talent – and turning it into something extraordinary.

“There are all kinds of avenues for getting into music. From conservatoire to recording songs in your bedroom. Whatever direction you take, perform as much as possible; give teaching a go; take on opportunities that are out of your comfort zone; arrive early and know the material; and in this modern world, social media is your friend - use it as a business tool. Most of my work has come from Facebook or Instagram with bands looking for deps or parents looking for tutors. And most importantly, always be nice and supportive of others!”

Join us at an East Sussex College Open Event on 20th November at any of our campuses and explore how you could follow in Joshua’s footsteps, turning your passion into a rewarding career. Your creative future is closer than you think - find out more here.