Phil is one half of folk supergroup Show Of Hands and is in much demand as a multi-instrumentalist and producer and has been described by the Guardian as 'where Steve Earle and Richard Thompson collide'. He was nominated for the coveted Musician of the Year title in the 2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. He is perhaps best known as a top-flight fiddler, but his skills don't stop there: he also plays slide, Spanish and tenor guitars, mandocello, viola, mandolin and South American cuatro, not to mention contributing his rich and remarkable vocals.

 

Phil worked with Paul Downes as a duo from 1974 and also in the Arizona Smoke Revue 1980. He was a key member of Johnny Coppin's band (ex-Decameron), and together they collaborated with Nigel Mazlyn Jones on his 1979 Sentinel album. He toured with Mike Oldfield in 1979 and also recorded some tracks at Oldfield's Througham studio. He joined The Albion Band in 1984 and stayed with them until 1991, touring extensively at home and abroad, and recording many albums.

 

Show of Hands became a full-time partnership from 1991. Phil continues to do session work, most notably on The Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels album, Steve Harley's Poetic Justice and countless other mainstream and less high-profile projects. Recent projects include two albums for folk fiddle player Jackie Oates, two albums for former Spinners singer Mick Groves, an album for folk musician Jez Lowe, an album for singer-songwriter Tom Palmer and an album for north Devon singer Jenna.

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We are delighted to have Phil playing for one of our Zoom events. This promises to be yet another great evening of music for us all to enjoy. 

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