Phil Beer

Phil Beer

Phil Beer is an English folk musician and multi-instrumentalist from Exminster, Devon, in the United Kingdom, born in 1953. He begins his music career in 1968 and works across traditional English tunes and ballads, often using new arrangements. As a vocalist and instrumentalist, he becomes a long-standing figure in the English acoustic roots and folk scene.

Career

Beer works with Paul Downes from 1974 as the duo Paul Downes & Phil Beer, and he also performs in Arizona Smoke Revue. He is a key member of Johnny Coppin's band, and with that group he collaborates with Nigel Mazlyn Jones on the 1979 album Sentinel. He tours with Mike Oldfield in 1979 and records some tracks at Oldfield's Througham studio.

Beer joins the Albion Band in 1984 and remains with the group until 1991, touring extensively in the UK and overseas and recording many albums. He is half of the acoustic roots duo Show of Hands with Steve Knightley, which becomes a full-time partnership from 1991. He is also a member of Alianza.

Session work and recordings

Beer continues to work as a session musician. His session credits include appearances on the Rolling Stones' Steel Wheels album and Steve Harley's Poetic Justice album, along with many other projects. His labels include Chudleigh Roots and Hands On Music.