Phil Beer A Legend of Folk

On Friday 21st August, Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre welcomes one of the true great musicians of the British folk world as the legendary Phil Beer returns for a very special Summer Folk evening — an intimate chance to experience a master musician up close in the Pennines.

Born in Exminster, Devon in 1953, Phil Beer began playing fiddle, guitar and mandolin while still at school in nearby Teignmouth, inspired in particular by the groundbreaking acoustic guitar work of Davey Graham and the album Folk, Blues and Beyond. He played his first gig at just fourteen years old, and by sixteen he was already performing regularly on the thriving Devon folk circuit that produced so many important British folk artists.

During the early 1970s Beer developed his craft performing with guitarist Paul Downes, releasing early albums such as Life Ain't Worth Living (1973) and Dance Without Music (1976). His reputation as a formidable multi-instrumentalist quickly spread, leading to work with the Arizona Smoke Revue, sessions with a wide range of musicians, and collaborations with folk artists such as Johnny Coppin and Nigel Mazlyn Jones.

By the late 1970s his musicianship had brought him onto much bigger stages. In 1979 he toured with progressive rock pioneer Mike Oldfield, even recording tracks at Oldfield's studio, before joining the influential folk-rock outfit The Albion Band in 1984. During his seven years with the band he toured extensively across Britain and Europe, appearing on numerous albums and helping cement the group's reputation as one of the most important ensembles in modern British folk music.

Yet it was another partnership that would define Phil Beer's career. In the mid-1980s he reunited with his old Devon friend Steve Knightley, forming the acoustic roots duo Show of Hands in 1986. What began with small cassette releases sold at gigs soon grew into one of the most successful and respected partnerships in British folk.

Over the following decades Show of Hands developed a huge and loyal audience, combining Knightley's powerful songwriting with Beer's extraordinary instrumental virtuosity. The duo have played everywhere from tiny rural venues to major concert halls, including multiple performances at London's Royal Albert Hall, and are widely regarded as one of the leading forces in modern English folk music.

Phil Beer's role in that sound is extraordinary. Often described as one of the finest multi-instrumentalists of his generation, he is renowned for his mastery of fiddle, slide and Spanish guitar, mandolin, mandocello, viola and even the South American cuatro, as well as his distinctive vocals and arrangements.

Beyond Show of Hands he has also built an impressive parallel career as a solo artist, bandleader, session musician and producer. He has recorded hundreds of albums across the folk and roots spectrum and even contributed session work to major mainstream recordings including the Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels album and projects by artists such as Steve Harley.

His solo discography includes albums such as Mandoline, Hard Hats, The Works, and the acclaimed double album Rhythm Methodist, while projects like The Fiddle Collection showcased some of the finest fiddle players on the British folk scene.

Over the years Phil Beer has also received major recognition from the folk world. In 2011 he was voted Musician of the Year in the Spiral Earth Awards, beating a shortlist of some of the UK's most respected folk performers, and he has also been nominated for honours at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

In recognition of their immense contribution to British music, Phil Beer and his Show of Hands colleagues were awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Music from the University of Plymouth in 2015, celebrating their influence on the acoustic roots tradition and their decades of work bringing folk music to new audiences.

Critics have consistently praised the duo's musicianship. Reviewing Show of Hands, The Guardian described the pair as "classy multi-instrumentalists" whose performances combine traditional material with powerful contemporary songwriting, while other writers have called Beer "one of the greatest multi-instrumental folk musicians of his generation."

And yet despite this remarkable résumé, Phil Beer remains famously modest about his achievements. His own tongue-in-cheek description still sums it up best:

"Phil Beer. Plays guitar and fiddle, sings a bit."

Anyone who has experienced him live knows the truth is far greater than that. A typical Phil Beer concert is a captivating journey through the traditions of British folk, blues, sea shanties, Methodist hymns and Americana, delivered with extraordinary musicianship and warm humour, interwoven with stories from over 45 years on the road.

In the intimate surroundings of Barnoldswick Music & Arts Centre's 60-capacity listening room, audiences will experience a rare opportunity to witness one of Britain's finest acoustic musicians up close and personal — a night of virtuoso playing, timeless songs and the kind of storytelling that only decades of life on the road can produce.

A perfect summer evening of folk music.