Acoustic artistry sees Plymouth graduate named among guitar world's rising stars

Will McNicol is listed alongside international superstars including Ed Sheeran and Laura Marling as one of Acoustic Guitar Magazine’s “30 Great Players Under 30”. The list aims to recognise a new generation of guitarists helping to transform the way the instrument is being played, and commended Will’s style of playing for being “at once soothing and uplifting”. It is the latest accolade for the 24-year-old, from Wimborne in Dorset, who was named Acoustic Guitarist of the Year by Guitarist Magazine in 2011, and is about to embark on a 10-date tour across the south of England. “Being named alongside some of the world's finest and most revolutionary players is really very humbling. It's not something I ever consider as I'm writing or performing – I just write my music because I love the process – but for it to be recognised by my peers as being up there is incredibly gratifying,” said Will, who graduated from the BA (Hons) Product Design programme in 2012 and currently balances his busy performance schedule with teaching classical and acoustic guitar in schools across Dorset. “I'm indebted to the magazine for getting my music out to a wider audience, and the networking with other players from around the world that has happened as a result. I have my first international gigs coming up in Africa in May, and there is already talk of getting over to the USA sometime in the near future, so it's all very exciting.