And, if you haven't already heard of Jersey Budd, you can be sure you're about to.

The Leicester lad will headline the Big Beach Bash music festival in Hayling Island during the August bank holiday weekend and is returning to the area for a Wedgewood Rooms gig in September.

'I've got one of the best jobs in the world,' he tells me from a London hotel room, where he's preparing for a gig with Aussie rockers Jet, before heading back up north to perform at his home town festival Summer Sundae.

'I spend most of my time sitting in the sun in my garden with my notebook and guitar,' continues the 25-year-old.

But not long ago Jersey was just plain Joe the plumber.

'Back when I was a plumber I'd written four or five songs and I would sing them all day at work. Then at night I became a rock star, playing gigs all over the place,' recounts the singer-songwriter-guitarist of his transition from tradesman to troubadour.

'As I built up my fan base slowly and the music took off, I was less able to commit to work. Eventually I had to make a choice, but it was a no-brainer.

'I was doing some guttering when I got the call from my manager to say I should hand in my notice and I literally slid down the ladder and walked out then and there,' Jersey says excitedly, before adding – in earnest:'The music industry is not as well paid for me at the minute, but hopefully it will come off.'

When the plumber's pipe dream of music stardom began to look like a genuine possibility, he changed his name.

Named after boxer Jersey Joe Walcott and nicknamed 'Jers' by his dad, Jersey says his new name 'is a bit more rock 'n' roll than Joe'.

'When I began to dig a little deeper into the subject, I found out that loads of my heroes had also changed their names,' he reveals, naming Joe Strummer and David Bowie among them.

The record companies duly came knocking, but defiant Jersey turned down a major record deal in favour of an experimental method of releasing his music.

'I met with the MD of one of the biggest record companies and played some acoustic songs in his office,' recalls Jersey.

'He said "You've got some great songs but you need a smash hit", whatever that means. He was thinking in pounds and I was thinking "If they don't believe in me, I'm not interested

'Then there was another offer on the table, but when I read the small print, it didn't come to much except money.'

So Jersey began to consider Bandstocks – an innovative service that offers fans unprecedented access to Jersey and his music in return for investment in the production and marketing of his debut album Wonderlands.

He explains: 'I thought this could work out for me and my manager, give us more control and a bigger percentage of the profits. It was good to be a pioneer in a new direction for the music industry too.

'At the same time it gives those that really do believe in me a free download, the right to buy a special limited signed edition of my album, privileged booking rights, invites to special gigs and also a share of income generated by the album. It's like a partnership.

'It seems pretty simple to me, especially after meeting those behind the concept of Bandstocks. They're not fat cats with a cigar looking for the next band to rip off, they're people who work in the music industry because they love music... people like me.'

Jersey's big decision paid off. He's raised more than £50,000 through fans and investors and among his shareholders are Leicester City Football Club and bands The Twang, The Hours, The Rifles, The Music and Kasabian.

'I can't thank them all enough,' beams Jersey. 'I know it's a bit of a cliche, but it's like a dream come true. It's magic, really.'
They money raised enabled Jersey to release Wonderlands in May. He says: 'I'm really proud of the album. There's a bit of blues, a bit of rock, and it's really soulful and epic.

'There's no pretence. It's raw and straight from the heart,' he continues, also praising the musicians he worked with.
'I've got a great band behind me. There's a lot more to it than one man and a guitar.'

Aside from his expressive, powerful voice and knack for a good melody, it's Jersey's obvious inspiration from rock history that makes his music so compelling.

Influences such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Cat Stevens and Johnny Cash make Wonderlands an album that blows away the cobwebs with a lethal combination of talent, charm and pure will.

Stand-out tracks include Shotgun Times's Southern rock updated with contemporary string and horn arrangements and She Came Back, which shimmers with 60s-style harmonies, handclaps and 'sha-La-La's.

The other obvious selling-point for She Came Back, is that it includes backing vocals from Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan.

Jersey shares a long history with Leicester's most famous band.
'Serge (Pizzorno] grew up in the same village as me and Tom and the bass player, Chris, lived in the next village on,' explains Jersey.

'Tom was in my big sister's class and came round ours for house parties. I was in a band with Tom's brother, John, and we used to support Kasabian when they were first starting out.

'I guess our friendship grew from there really. We knew each other from around the village and got closer when we realised we had the same interests and were trying to do similar things.

'They've not changed one bit; Tom's always been the crazy lovable frontman and Serge is forever the cool brooding rock star. They're a bit good cop bad cop like that,' Jersey continues before explaining how Tom came to sing backing vocals for him.

'I was at a party at Serge's house and at four in the morning the guitar went round, as it does. I sang She Came Back and Tom chipped in with backing vocals.

'We talked about doing it in the studio, but I thought it was just talk. Then he called me up and asked if I still needed him. I couldn't believe he remembered.

'He came into the studio like a ball of flames with his taxi waiting outside. It took 45 minutes and he did the whole thing for four cans of Foster's. He never asked for a penny – he's an absolute diamond.'

Jersey's rocking album closer, The Blind Man, has a similar story, having been penned on a late-night London rooftop with Serge.

As well as helping Jersey write and record his album (and spurring him along with some late-night jams – and a few nightcaps) Kasabian gave Jersey the highlight of his career so far – the chance to perform at the Royal Albert Hall.

He supported the band at a gig in the iconic London venue in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust in March.

'We got there early to make a day of it,' Jersey remembers.
'We had a rider with 40 fags, two bottles of vodka and whisky and when we got to our dressing room I said to my band "We've arrived now lads".
'The gig was amazing. It was the best sound I've ever heard, but it went too quickly.'

Other high points for Jersey from the year so far include his appearances at the Isle of Wight and Glastonbury festivals.

'This year's been mental and I can't wait for the rest of it,' Jersey says enthusiastically.

He has a nine-date UK headline tour planed for the Autumn, before taking off around Europe in support of The Rifles.

Before he leaves the country, the next two months for Jersey will include three visits to the Portsmouth area.
Jersey explains: 'I've been to the area four or five times, if you include Southampton (but I know that's a bit of a swear word round your way).
'The Cellars and The Wedgewood Rooms are both great venues and each time I come down I can see the fanbase building.

'I'm always glad when I check my tour schedule and see I'm coming to Portsmouth – it's one of my favourites. It's always a great night and I always get well supported.'

The next opportunity you have to see Jersey locally is at the Big Beach Bash in Hayling Island. He is headlining the festival on Saturday, August 29, having become involved through his musical mates – local band The Limits.

'It sounds magic,' says Jersey. 'A big stage on the beach and so much other good music. It's a privilege to be asked to headline.
'The more I hear about it, the more I can't wait to get down there. It's going to be great.'

Jersey also plans to start work on a new album before the year is out.

He reveals: 'I'm going back into the studio with Stan Kybert – Paul Weller, Oasis and The Rifles's producer – any day now to get cracking on a new album.

'Then I'll be back on the road. I want to build my fanbase the old fashioned way. It's going to take a while, but I'm in it for the long haul.'

See Jersey Budd headlining the Big Beach Bash in Harbour Field, Mill Rythe Resort, Hayling Island, on Saturday, August 29. Tickets cost £3.50 to £7.50 from (023) 9246 0044.

The event also features local bands including The Cartel, The White Coats, The Limits and The Exits.

Jersey's autumn tour opens at the Wedgewood Rooms in Southsea on September 24 (tickets £7.50 from 023 9286 3911) and closes at Hamptons in Southampton on October 3 (tickets £7 from 02380 632 601). A four-track EP is available as a free download with advanced tickets for the tour.