Phil Smith (14)

Phil started playing guitar at the age of 15, playing lead guitar in cover bands in Queensland,Australia and studying jazz guitar at the Conservatorium in Brisbane, before moving to the U.K. at the age of 27. After recording a self-funded guitar instrumental CD in Bristol in 1998, he became interested in contemporary folk, and singer songwriters such as Nick Drake and Beth Orton, undertaking a year's vocal coaching at the Bristol School of Voice, and starting to write and perform his own songs in and around Bristol and Bath. Moving to Brighton two years later he continued performing and writing at various singer songwriter nights, attracting the attention of a Sony U.K. scout whom a friend brought along to a gig. Declining a financial offer in favour of developing his songwriting without label pressure, Phil eventually moved to London and formed a band, comprising drums, bass, cello and himself on guitar, vocals and mouth organ. Delving more into the alt-country sounds of Ryan Adams, Phil continued playing and developing as a songwriter with his band, before returning to Australia in 2003 for a 6 week break, which turned into a 3 year obligatory stay, due to an illness in the family. Still here now, and influenced ever more by the alt country sounds of Ryan Adams and Gillian Welch, early Dylan, Neil Young, and even Hank Williams, Phil has since released two albums with a five-piece band (GOLDMINE in 2008 & SECOND HAND HEART in 2010). 2014 saw the release of the critically acclaimed solo album, YEAR OF THE DOG, which received a 4 out of 5 star review from Noel Mengel in Brisbane's Courier Mail, who commented that "The message here is the one we get from all the art that speaks personally to us. Sure life can be tough —but not so tough that songs as good as these won’t help us through." Americana UK gave the album 8 of 10, stating: "Like the best songwriters in the genre, Smith manages to shape an album of his and others’ troubles, a dash of drink, women, self-reflection and redemption. And like the best albums, “Year Of The Dog” avoids being defined by its mood; relying on the strength of the songs rather than the weight of the subject matter.”   Latest Album: 1,2,3,4…Phil Smith & The Lights: Phil's current vinyl release, is a six-piece band Country Blues/Folk style album, recorded with live playing at The Barn Recording Studio in Plainland, Queensland. As Phil explains, "We wanted to give the album a real 70s recording feel with a big room and live playing, and without excessive overdubs". In line with this, the album was mastered on analogue tape and released onto vinyl. The band consists of Phil on guitar & vocals, backed by experienced session musicians on drums, bass guitar, lead guitar, piano & Hammond organ – reproducing the style of recording heard on late 60s and early 70s albums from Bob Dylan, The Band, Neil Young & Creedence Clearwater Revival, similarly completed in a live studio environment. The album was Crowd-Funded by a number of music lovers from the Brisbane business community. The record boasts a collection of 9 songs – ‘any of which wouldn’t be out of place on the soundtrack to the classic Texas documentary Heartworn Highway.’ “It’s like reading a book of short stories set to sound,” is how one critic put it, with the album receiving 4 stars from Brisbane’s Courier Mail. Rob Dickens, of online music blog Music Mainline, described the new album as “similar to classic Bob Dylan, The Band or Neil Young with Crazy Horse, a beautifully ‘loose’ vibe that is foot-tapping and brain-engaging. In September 2016, the album achieved Brisbane's ABC Radio 612’s Album of the Week. On the back of this success, Phil has embarked on a European & US tour for 2016/2017. You can watch “Straight & Narrow” from the live 1,2,3,4 Album Launch here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=em-subs_digest&v=B4n09t5TLiI