大象传媒

He's getting ready to go on a nationwide tour after months in the studio recording his debut album 'Wonderlands' which will be released in May 2009.

And before all that he's been asked personally by Kasabian to play with them at Royal Albert Hall, in support of the charity Teenage Cancer Trust.

Listen: Interview with Jersey Budd

大象传媒 Leicester's Chris Baxter spoke to Jersey Budd about his exciting new tour and Leicester's music scene...

The debut album has been funded in large part by Jersey Budd fans and friends through a scheme called Bandstocks.

For 拢10 people could invest in the album which in return gives them a free album download, priveledge gig tickets for the first five years and a share of 30 per cent of album profit.

Amongst the shareholders were Leicester City Football Club and bands The Twang, The Hours, The Rifles, The Music and Kasabian:

"I think that's a lot of bullying on my part!"

Jersey's links with Kasabian go back to his school days. He attended Countesthorpe College with both Tom and Serge, and played in a band with Tom's brother:

"We used supported them when they were 16 year-olds growing up. So we got on board early, that's what we keep telling everyone anyway."

Joe to Jersey

Jersey's first started playing music after buying his first guitar for a tenner from the Leicester Mercury classified ads.

Back then Jersey was actually Joe.He decided that his dad's nickname for him, after the boxer Jersey Joe Walcott, defined his music much better.

So for just 拢11, he became Jersey by deed-poll, "I thought it was a bit more rock and roll than Joe."

Jersey still lives around the Countesthorpe area, "Half is because of financial reasons, and half because I love living there".

He feels that the Leicester music scene is on the up and that when he does have the chance to get to local gigs he's always impressed with the talent.

Jersey hopes that he'll have his own part in bringing Leicester to the forefront of British music, and see's his links to the city as a help rather than hindrance.