As well as playing solo and teaching/mentoring guitar, I'm also a member of the finest dance/ceilidh band known to man or beast (often beast!) - namely Three Point Turn (See separate MySpace), as well as 'depping' where necessary with some fine acoustic bands and artists from across the UK and Europe.
Influences
Too many to mention (see the blog on this subject) but the names of Richard Thompson, John Martyn, Dylan (Thomas & Bob!), Bill Broonzy, Duck Baker, Dave Evans, Roy Harper, O'Carolan, Leon Rosselson, Nic Jones and Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are never far away!
Sounds Like
An evolved combination of the above artists has given me a distinctive (and occasionally quirky!) sound. So, yeah, I sound like me!
Phil Hare is widely regarded as one of the finest and most distinctive acoustic guitarists working on the current folk music circuit.
After serving a ‘local apprenticeship’ with many well-known names in the North West of England: bands like FULL HOUSE and the FIDDLE BAND, Phil became a solo performer at the end of the 1980’s, taking to the road with a powerful, self-written song selection from his self-produced recording ‘MAIDENHEAD REVISITED’: prompting PAUL ADAMS from FELLSIDE to sign Phil to his record label in 1990.
Following a busy spell at FELLSIDE, during which time Phil was regarded as the ‘house guitarist’, playing on several FELLSIDE releases, not least, his own critically acclaimed album: ‘LIVING ON CREDIT’, he teamed up with MIKE JOHNSON from 101 RECORDS. The resulting album: ‘COMMON GROUND’, received some great reviews and confirmed Phil’s position as one of the foremost guitarists and songwriters around.
Phil’s 2003 album ‘BROKEN TIMING’ covered a more reflective and mature approach to song writing, taking in influences from across the acoustic spectrum. Material from this album is available on the MP3 page.
2005 saw the release of ‘TEARS FROM THE TRACKS’ an eclectic 18-track tour de force featuring traditional and contemporary material with just solo acoustic guitar and voice.
2007 saw the release of an album of traditional dance music by the North West-based band THREE POINT TURN. Phil contributed all the guitar and some production to this project and continues to play at regular dance gigs.
In 2008, Phil embraced the progressive digital media frames of MySpace and YouTube and continues to contribute entertaining videos to the latter. Some of these are available as blogs on MySpace!
2009 will see the release of a new album by Phil, bringing together the sometimes disparate areas of contemporary folk song and acoustic fingerstyle guitar instrumentals. In addition, Phil will continue to mentor guitar at local colleges.
Over the years Phil has been increasingly in demand as a session guitarist. This combined with live performance has seen him work on stage and in the studio with a veritable ‘who’s who’ of traditional and contemporary folk and acoustic musicians. Artists such as the late JAKE THACKERAY, THE SPINNERS, ISLA ST CLAIR, VIN GARBUTT, CHRIS NEWMAN, TOM MCCONVILLE, DAVE BURLAND, JACQUES STOTZEM, WOODY MANN, BEN & JOE BROUGHTON, BILL CADDICK, BRAM TAYLOR, GARVA, the acoustic rock band PELE (no, it’s not him!) DEAN JOHNSON, JON HARVISON, PENNI McCLAREN-WALKER (part of a successful songwriting duo) and more recently with dance bands TANGLEFOOT, THREE POINT TURN and PANDEMONIUM. It was with the GINGHAM PINKS dance band that Phil played at EDINBURGH FRINGE 2001 where they provided a musical backdrop for JOHNNY VEGAS and NICHOLAS PARSONS amongst others!
In addition to regular local and national radio play and performance, Phil has completed British and European tours in the last few years, winning many friends with his combination of finely-crafted and often ‘socially aware’ chorus songs, a rich, husky voice, a humorous line in stage banter, and, quite simply, some of the best guitar playing you are likely to hear anywhere.
Among the many press quotes available on Phil; IAN WELLS of the DAILY TELEGRAPH wrote: ‘If folk song is history from underneath, then Phil’s songs are today’s broadsides’. The New York based magazine DIRTY LINEN wrote: ‘The songs are British, maybe even Northern English, but this guy is clearly a world class player’. ‘Some beautiful guitar playing from the vastly underrated Phil Hare ‘LIVING TRADITION’.
PRS/MCPS REGISTERED.
FOR FURTHER DETAILS CONTACT: amandalynnemusic.com - Lynne Barnes, Nantwich or Stephanie Hare: 01354 651396,
Email: philhare@gmx.com OR stephanie@madasafish.com
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..?
Hi Phil, While rampaging through the wilds of myspace it's a relief to hear such quaintly beautiful songs and passionately complicated guitar. We, the members of Housewives anonymous never win the war either. DH no2 got so obsessive with her cleansing diet that she took her vacuum cleaner down to Tescos and hoovered up all the chocolate bars. (must get down to the police station with the bail money) regards Desperado Housewives.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
well thank you very much I'm glad you enjoy my music. I've had a listen to you music and it's lovely. your guitar sound is beautiful. keep on playing much love Ruth x
Every time that we listen & write music... play an instrument... dance... act in a play... or work in some audio/image/video engineering process... something is healing inside...
When we share it with friends... something is healing all over...
Love can drive... in a simple way... everything
We are connected
Vibejays & Friends
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimada/o Phil Hare,
cada vez que escuchamos o escribimos musica... tocamos un instrumento... bailamos... o trabajamos en procesos de ingenieria de audio/imagen/video.... algo se sana por dentro...
Cuando lo compartimos con amigos... algo se sana en todas partes...
El Amor puede conducir... de manera simple... todo...
Thanks for the CDs - hugely appreciated and they have already received many plays up and down the M1 to Nottingham and back! A breath of fresh air! Cheers, Martin.
You may like to check out my recently released book - 100 Great Albums. It's a 220 page review of the best music recorded during the period 1965-08 featuring the Beatles,Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Sex Pistols, Joy Division, U2, Nirvana, Radiohead, the Strokes and many more! Also, 500 vital album tracks are spotlighted (split between five categories... pre-1970, the 70's, 80's, 90's and 2000-08).
My aim is to prolong the existence of something close to my heart, something currently under severe threat from the download generation - The Album! With the modern world increasingly more interested in cherry-picking individual tracks, it seems to me a great shame that the sacred long-player is losing its importance. I'm on a mission to save the album before it's too late. All musicians, whether new or old to the scene, can appreciate the importance of that.
If you click on the button below you can access further details about the book (including an option to preview some of the content) before deciding whether you want to buy. All the best Andy.
JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU
FOR ADDING ME ON...
IT MEANS ALOT TO ME...
I HOPE ALL IS WELL IN YOUR WORLD...
AND I WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST...
TAKE CARE...
T. RYBKA
