Before an audience of thousands, a signature guitar tone cuts through the heat and rises above the roar of the crowd. As Asake headlines the Afro Nation main stage, a familiar question ripples through the audience: Who’s the guitarist?
More often than not, the answer is Aaron Forbes.
What began as a question has become a personal brand. Who’s the Guitarist? is now synonymous with one of the UK’s most respected musicians; a guitarist whose reputation continues to grow with every arena, festival and international stage he steps onto.
It wasn’t love at first sight for Aaron. He first picked up a guitar at age 11 before putting it down in favour of football for several years. It was during his teenage years that music truly took hold. Aaron often jokes that his father bought him a guitar simply because their church needed someone to play on Sundays. What started as filling a gap quickly became the foundation of a career that would take him around the world.
Those years playing in church provided invaluable experience, while countless hours spent studying his heroes shaped his musical identity. Influenced by players such as Eric Gales, Eric Walls and Mark Lettieri, Aaron developed an obsession with detail from a young age. He would spend hours in his bedroom analysing performances, memorising guitar parts from Justin Timberlake’s FutureSex/LoveShow concert at Madison Square Garden for fun, a glimpse of the attention to detail and curiosity that would later define his career.
A pivotal moment came in 2007 when Aaron began studying with respected UK guitarist Wayne Plummer. The lessons provided insight into the professional live music industry and he hasn’t looked back since.
Since then, Aaron’s career has taken him across the globe. His impressive list of credits includes some of the UK’s most recognised artists, including Calum Scott, FLO, FIVE, Perrie and Asake. Along the way, he has become a PRS Guitars artist and secured endorsements with D’Addario and MONO, cementing his status as one of the industry’s most trusted players.
Yet the journey has not been without challenges. Aaron has spoken openly about experiencing imposter syndrome and the process of finding confidence in his own identity as a musician. Today, however, he appears firmly grounded in who he is. His meticulous attention to detail, commitment to excellence and relentless pursuit of great tone have made him a favourite among leading UK musical directors including Levi Yarde, Matty Brown, and Dayna Fisher.
For Aaron, every detail matters, from the tone he creates to the instrument he chooses to play. A self-confessed fashion enthusiast, Aaron is rarely seen without a brightly coloured guitar slung over his shoulder. For him, the visual impact of an instrument matters almost as much as the sound it produces. The result is a stage presence that is instantly recognisable before he has even played a note.
That same attention to detail is what has made Aaron’s approach to tone so respected among musicians. Hundreds of players have purchased his Quad Cortex and Fractal patches, hoping to capture some of the sounds that have become synonymous with his playing.
His goal is simple: preserve the familiarity that audiences love, while elevating the live performance. Aaron describes his role as creating a “safety net” for artists, ensuring that songs retain the essence of the record while bringing a fresh energy to the stage. When the moment calls for a new line or chord progression, he’s more than capable of delivering. Just as importantly, he understands when restraint serves the music better. It’s a quality that makes him every musical director’s dream.
Artists clearly value that level of respect for their work, and it reflects something deeper about Aaron himself. His Christian faith remains central to his life, and the values it instills; integrity, and service are evident in his professional approach. In an industry that can sometimes prioritise image over substance, Aaron has built a reputation not only for exceptional musicianship but also for genuine character.
With no signs of slowing down, Aaron’s next chapter is already taking shape. This summer, he heads across the United States on Asake’s arena tour while continuing to invest in the next generation of musicians through three upcoming masterclasses. For a guitarist whose career has been built on precision and consistency, the future looks every bit as exciting as the journey so far.
With new tours, new projects and new creative opportunities ahead, Aaron continues to build a career defined not only by the stages he plays, but by the standard he brings to every one of them.
