From Brighton to Nashville, Introducing Josh Okeefe
Nashville, Tennessee, is known as the birthplace of country music and home to the world-famous RCA Studios, where the likes of Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Dolly Parton, and Willie Nelson have all recorded. One singer-songwriter hoping to follow in their footsteps is former BIMM Brighton student Josh Okeefe, who has been making a name for himself as a rising country music singer in Nashville, where he currently resides.
The thousands of miles that troubadour and former BIMM Brighton student Josh Okeefe has travelled from his birthplace, Sheffield, to his current home of Nashville, Tennessee, tell just one small part of a nomadic life in music that spans generations and encompasses myriad genres, traditions and disciplines. Although a relatively new artist, the young guitar-and-harmonica-playing singer-songwriter delivers unforgettable lyrics with the gravitas of a seasoned veteran.
Okeefe dropped out of school at 16, living briefly in numerous locations, often sleeping on the floors of recording studios, music coffeehouses, and small venues. Drawn to the places his musical heroes once roamed, he travelled to America after his stint at BIMM Brighton and began writing at an astonishing pace. That journey shaped him into a formidable songwriter, amassing millions of streams and views and enthralling audiences worldwide with viral social media performances. His work has been recorded by several major-label artists including Ashley Monroe, High Valley and TooManyLeftHands—a testament to his versatility and enduring appeal.
A magnetic performer with an undeniable presence, Okeefe has left his mark on some of the world’s most iconic stages alongside music’s most revered artists. He has performed for 10,000 people in London with Kris Kristofferson, captivating audiences on tour with Glen Hansard, culminating in a show-stopping guest appearance at Madison Square Garden during a Pearl Jam show—an electrifying moment that underscored his place among the greats—and making his mark at Glastonbury Festival alongside Billy Bragg.
A rebellious artist, a protest singer, the heir to your favourite folk legend or – when he’s doing one of his lighter satirical numbers with raw, topical storytelling and a voice that crackles with authentic folk tradition, Okeefe is all these and more.
We caught up with the troubadour to talk BIMM and what life is really like in Music City, USA:
“Surreal. I feel lucky that I get to write songs and make music for a living. I never expected it, never thought about either.”
Josh later praised BIMM Brighton and the support he received from the lecturers.
“The one year I spent at BIMM gave me the belief and push to make it to the next level in music,” he enthused. “I listened to my mentors, and I tried to learn everything I could from them, even down to the last piano lick. You never know where something like that might come in handy.”
His advice to prospective students and those currently studying at BIMM is always to pay attention and listen.
“Listen to your mentors; they are great musicians after all. Learn everything you can, and don’t take it for granted. The opportunity might never come again to have that invaluable knowledge at your fingertips,” he explains.
Josh is currently writing and recording his next album. Good luck, Josh!
For more details of Josh’s upcoming tour and news, check out his website here.
