Phil Beer

Infobox musical artist

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Name = Phil Beer
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Background = solo_singer
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Born = flagicon|England 12 May 1953
Exminster, Devon, UK
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Instrument = Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin
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Genre = Folk
Occupation = Singer, Songwriter, Composer, Producer
Years_active = 1968—present
Label = Rough Trade
Associated_acts = Show of Hands, Albion Band, Johnny Coppin, Alianza (band)
URL = [http://www.philbeer.co.uk www.philbeer.co.uk]
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Phil Beer (born 12 May 1953 in Exminster, Devon) is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and one half of English acoustic roots duo Show of Hands.

Beer first began to play fiddle, guitar, and mandolin whilst still at school in Teignmouth, Devon. This passion for acoustic music was especially stirred by the Davey Graham album "Folk Blues and Beyond". He played his first gig when he was fourteen in a band called Retrospect with Richard Entwistle and other musicians, and by the time he was sixteen he was performing regularly. Beer worked with Paul Downes as a duo and also in the Arizona Smoke Revue. He was a key member of Johnny Coppin's band (ex-Decameron), and together they collaborated with Nigel Mazlyn Jones on his 1979 "Sentinel" album. He toured with Mike Oldfield in 1979 and also recorded some tracks at Oldfield's Througham studio. Beer joined the Albion Band in 1984 and stayed with them until 1991, touring extensively at home and abroad, and recording many albums. Show of Hands became a full-time partnership from 1991. Beer continues to do session work, most notably on the Rolling Stones "Steel Wheels" album.

Phil is generally considered a 'top bloke' by Exeter's musical fraternity.

Discography

(incomplete)
*"Hard Hats" (1994)
*"The Works" (1996)
*"Ridgeriders" (with Ashley Hutchings and Chris While) (1999)
*"Mandorock" (with the Phil Beer Band) (2000)
*"Live Mandorock" (with the Phil Beer Band) (2000)
*"Once in a Blue Moon (2001)
*"Phil Beer & Deb Sandland Live 2003" (2004)
*"Rhythm Methodist" (2004)

Albion Band

*See The Albion Country Band

Alianza

*See Alianza

Downes and Beer

*"Life Ain't Worth Living" (1973)
*"Dance Without Music" (1976)
*"Live in Concept" (1980)

Johnny Coppin

*See Johnny Coppin

how of Hands

*See Show of Hands

External links

* [http://www.philbeer.co.uk Phil Beer official website]
* [http://www.showofhands.co.uk Show of Hands official website]