In 2005 Joe Hughes graduated from Dartington College of Arts, where he studied composition. It was at Dartington where Joe began his association with Awkward City, working on the mammoth piece Inapoticum Forgetanamia.
In September 2005 Joe was asked to expand two works, Dust On My Sleeve and Falling Down, Again for Icebreaker who have been performing the work since February 2006 in various venues including London and Rotterdam.