Brendan Emmett (Guitar & mandolin, vocals)
Born in Ballyfarnon, Co. Roscommon, Brendan Emmett is one of the finest mandolin/guitar players on the Irish music scene today.
He has recorded with such music greats as Ralph McTell, Frances Black, Maura O’Connell and Makem and Clancy and toured extensively with Christy Moore, Frances Black, The Woman’s Heart Tour, Eleanor Shanley and with his own band The Boys of Sligo. He is also a regular member of Charlie McGettigan’s band Jargon.
Musically Brendan’s playing covers a wide range of styles, from Irish Traditional to folk, blues and jazz and his life long passion for bluegrass music has brought many highlights.
Tom McFarland (Percussion, Vocals)
Described by Folk Roots as “…one of the most sensitive accompanists on the folk scene”, Tom McFarland is a percussionist, backing vocalist and studio recording engineer who comes from Belfast. In recent years his studio interests have expanded to include video editing and web design.
Tom has toured with Fil since the early 90s and has also toured and recorded with David Knopfler (Dire Straits); with Ben Sands of the world renowned Sands Family; has guested on stage with Finbar Furey and has recorded with the late John Wright, with Tommy Sands, Rosemary Woods, Briege Murphy, Colum Sands, and Ben Sands.
Between tours and sessions he teaches drums and percussion to adults and regularly presents workshops in percussion for handicapped adults and for cross community groups in Northern Ireland. He is also a passionate computer buff.
Buy Fil's music from iTunes
Influences
Bonnie Raitt, Mary O'Hara, Delia Murphy, Maggie Barry, Linda Ronstadt, Mary Black, Ella Fitzgerald, Sting, David Knopfler, Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Paul Brady, Mick Hanly, Christy Hennessy, Beth Nielsen Chapman... oh and not forgetting Judy Garland... I so wanted to be her when I grew up :-D
Basic Info
I'm Fil and I'm am a singer. I am currently working on my 5th CD. I'm a bit of a reluctant songwriter - my first love is for interpreting other people's music and I have a passion for the old folk songs that I grew up with. I come from Co. Fermanagh in the North of Ireland although I now live on the other coast in Co. Down.
Live Gigs
Mostly at the minute I am touring a concert called SONGBIRDS based on my most recent CD.
This concert is an entire evening of Irish songs from the 1920s and 1930s and is an expanded version of the repertoire on that CD. Songbirds was a big project in my life - a TV series, a DVD, a CD and now a show - my tribute to the wonderful women who first recorded Irish music and brought it to audiences around the world. If you're interested in finding out more about it, please visit the Songbirds page at my website - www.filcampbell.com
I tour with a small combo - myself on guitar and keyboards, Tom McFarland on percussion and backing vocals and Brendan Emmett on mandolin, mandola and guitar.
Apart from this themed show, when performing in Folk Clubs and theatres in Europe, we perform a mixture of material from my recordings - traditional Irish songs, my own compositions, covers, some great tunes and generally have good fun on stage. I'm often told I talk too much, but hey ho, I think listeners need to know a bit about songs, and anyway... I have the mike... hehe
Right Now
Right now I am setting up distribution in various territories and am continually working on tours - right now for 2010 and early 2011.
And the rest...
I also get to work occasionally as a broadcaster on local radio in Newry and I spend a lot of time coaching other singers and preparing them for a life in the music industry which is a real joy for me
Loving My Space
I'm loving meeting all the people I'm coming across here on My Space and I rotate my top friends regularly and quite often randomize them so I get to see what people are up to, so check some of them out - there's some amazing music and craft among the people who have honoured me bey joining my friends' list.
I add people to my site for many reasons
friends old and new;
bands and singers and musicians that i've been a fan of forever;
new music that i want to check out;
music that i want to keep up to date with for my occasional radio programmes;
people i come across who just sound fun, interesting or mad;
craftsmen and women (I'm a knitter and love jewellry);
healers and inspirational people...
I look forward to meeting you somewhere on the road.
Fil
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Hello Fil..It's been so long since we chatted, I miss talking with you! I hope you are well! Maybe I can catch on over on FB, you don't seem to show up on my myspace IM even though you are currently online....Your music always lifts my mood or makes me feel....really wish I could hear you IRL sometime, it would be lovely! Peace my friend! Anna
Hi Fil, Great gig last night at the Red Lion in Brum. You had the audience in the palm of your hand in the second half singing along! Good luck with your forthcoming dates. Lovely to meet you. Really enjoyed opening for you. All the best, Andy www.andysmythe.com
Hi Fil, Good to hear from you. I am getting more interested in the beautiful side of folk music etc. I really like the vibe off most people who are 'in music for the music'.
I'm flat out at the moment, I'll get back to you when the furore has died down! lol
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
