Phil Beer

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PHIL BEER
Solo Tour: Jan 8-April 2 2016

Friday, April 1 at 8pm (doors 7.30pm) -
Upton Hall, British Horological Institute, Newark-on-Trent
Tickets £16 on 07796 888573

“Phil Beer can play virtually every stringed instrument known to man”- The Scotsman
“Fans hang on Phil Beer’s every note” - Americana UK
“Phil Beer’s stylish fiddle gives the songs a rich hue” - MOJO
“A Phil Beer gig is one spent in the company of a true craftsman, a master musician and consummate performer” - Spiral Earth

SHOW OF HANDS’ IRREPRESSIBLE PHIL BEER HEADS TO NOTTINGHAMSHIRE ON ANOTHER BUMPER SOLO UK TOUR

The indefatigable Phil Beer, one of the UK’s finest multi instrumentalists, is out on the road on a brand new 29-date solo UK tour. Just a few days after the clocks go forward for the start of British Summer Time, he will stop off at the British Horological Institute’s Upton Hall, near Newark-on-Trent (Friday, April 1).

Exeter-based Phil, best known as one half of folk legends Show of Hands (with singer songwriter Steve Knightley) will also have his own Phil Beer Band on the road in March and will find time to weave in appearances with the Bully Wee Band.

Show_Of_Hands-3451R-800pxNamed Musician of the Year in the 2011 Spiral Awards, run by popular music website Spiral Earth and nominated for the Musician of the Year title in the 2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Phil is one of the most popular ambassadors for acoustic roots music.

Perhaps best known for his fiddle prowess, his skills don’t stop there - alongside rich vocals he also plays slide, Spanish and tenor guitar, mandocello, viola, mandolin and South American cuatro. * See Phil performing Flowers of the Forest/The Holy Brook/When This Bloody War is Over www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCikocuaEe4

http://www.talkingelephant.co.uk/cms/titles/packshots/442239-0144770.jpgHis engaging solo set will showcase a wide range of material including songs and tunes from his latest acclaimed CD release modestly entitled Plays Guitar and Fiddle. Sings a Bit”. The 15-track album ranges from the traditional The Warlike Lads of Russia to Willin’, penned by Lowell George, founder of American rock band Little Feat.

“Beer’s matter of fact approach is refreshing and his fiddle playing is exemplary” – fRoots

“Plays guitar and fiddle masterfully and sings up a storm” - Bright Young Folk

“One of the striking characteristics of Beer’s playing is its lack of gratuitous showing off but, when it’s called for, he can really let rip.” - R2 Magazine


Born in Exminster, Devon, Phil started to play fiddle, guitar and mandolin while still at school in Teignmouth and habitually credits Davey Graham’s Folk, Blues & Beyond as his inspiration for acoustic music.

He played his first gig at 14 and started working as a duo with Paul Downes in 1974. He was then in the Arizona Smoke Revue and a key member of Johnny Coppin’s band.

His impressive track record also includes touring with Mike Oldfield and being a member of the feted Albion Band from 1984-1991. Show of Hands became a full-time partnership in the early 90s - a band that has gone on to sell out the Royal Albert Hall four times and who were voted Best Live Act, by the public, at the 2004 Folk Awards and Best Duo in the 2010 Awards, at which Steve Knightley also won “Best
Original Song”.

Phil famously guested on the Rolling Stones Steel Wheels album and Steve Harley’s Poetic Justice and in 2009 was delighted to appear with legendary American band Little Feat. A gifted composer, Phil has written many numbers including the stunning instrumental The Falmouth Packet for SoH’s studio album Witness.

As a solo artist he released Rhythm Methodist in 2004 – a double album of songs and instrumentals - while his enviable versatility is shown in the Hard Works compilation of two earlier albums and a five disc boxed set of archive, new and live music and video.

In 2009 he took time out to achieve a lifetime dream of crewing in the famous Tall Ships Race, on the 74 foot Bristol built wooden cutter Pegasus which crossed the finishing line in an impressive second place in its class, after a voyage of 4,500 nautical miles and an adventure which took in 12 countries. He now runs his own special Folkboat music and sailing workshops sailing West Country waters.

www.philbeer.co.uk
www.facebook.com/philbeermusic
Phil Beer – Solo 2016 Tour Dates

Thu 4 Feb Low Bradfield Village Hall, South Yorks 07920 427 306 www.wegottickets.com
Fri 5 Feb Guildhall Theatre, Derby 01332 255 800 www.derbylive.co.uk
Sat 6 Feb Victoria Hall, Settle 01729 825718 www.settlevictoriahall.org.uk
Sun 7 Feb Cookley Sebright Primary School,Worcs 07947 644916
Thu 11 Feb Sheriff Hutton Village Hall, Yorkshire 01347 878 595
Fri 12 Feb Jubilee Hall, Market Harborough 01858 525 179 www.amgigs.co.uk
Fri 19 Feb G Live,Guildford - Bellerby Studio 01483 369350 www.glive.co.uk
Sun 21 Feb Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft 01502 589726www.theseagull.co.uk
Thu 25 Feb Stanley Hall, South Norwood 07939 726 293
Fri 26 Feb Mycenae House, Blackheath 0208 8581749 www.mycenaehouse.co.uk
Sat 27 Feb Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Winchelsea 01797 224446 www.wegottickets.com/winchelsea
Wed 9 Mar Colebrook Parish Hall, Devon 01363 84309
Thu 10 Mar Chapel Arts, Bath 01225 463362 www.wegottickets.com/event/337609
Fri 11 Mar Hinckley Act, Leicester 01455 631609 www.hinckleyact.co.uk
Sat 12 Mar Upwood Village Hall, Huntingdon 01487 814114

Thu 24 Mar Discovery Centre, Winchester 01962 873603
www.hants.gov.uk/wdc
Fri 25 Mar Ropetackle Arts Centre, Shoreham 01273 464440
www.ropetacklecentre.co.uk/box-office
Sat 26 Mar Chettle Village Hall, nr Blandford Forum 07776 323 198
Wed 30 Mar Bisley Village Hall, Bisley nr Stroud 01452 770252
www.wegottickets.com/event/335080
Thu 31 Mar Youlgreave Village Hall, Derbyshire 01629 630282
Fri 1 Apr British Horological Institute, Newark 01636 822742
2 Apr ACE Space, Newbury 078911 76940
www.wegottickets.com