Singing guitarist

Phil Richards

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About Phil

Acoustic musician perfect for weddings, functions, bars, and more!
Singing guitarist
Hull
Public liability insurance of £10 million
Verified profile

Hello all, Phil here! Whether you’re looking for chilled out music to complement your event, or upbeat party music and a good bit of banter, I’ve got you covered. I like to engage and have a laugh with my audience and not take myself too seriously whenever possible and appropriate (but I can also blend in and play some tasteful tunes in the background when the occasion calls for it!) I’m a professional wedding & events musician with years of experience in the industry. All the equipment required is provided, I have all the legal jargon covered (Public liability insurance etc), but most importantly, I want to bring a good time and good music to your event! If you want to hear a little more about me, read on! Or just have a look around my page and let me know if you have any questions at all. Once upon a time, this entire page was written in third person, as if I was super important and had my own private editor (Hah!) Over the years I’ve come to realise that’s not who I am or the vibe I want to put across. So we’re starting fresh! Before I tell you a little bit about myself however, I should say that when the event calls for it (such as background/restaurant events) I am more than capable of providing a professional background ambience without the music being overpowering. There’s a time and a place for lively entertainment, and the same goes for complementing an occasion with tasteful music that people can listen to and still have a chat. Alot of events also require a little bit of both! THAT SAID… If you give me a crowd that can handle a good time, some banter, and a pinch of humour, I’m in my element! When I started this job years ago, I genuinely believed I couldn’t succeed as an ‘entertainer’. In my eyes, an entertainer was your typical Butlins type singer, following a script and saying ‘EVERYBODY CLAP ALONG!’ That wasn’t, isn’t, and will never be me. I’m pretty sarcastic (brought up on comedy shows, blame my Dad) and I absolutely love having a laugh and a chat with the audience in between songs. We’ll get plenty of singalong numbers in there but if you’re looking for a performer who will play songs back to back without saying a word in between, I’m probably not your guy… Anyway, here we are years later and I’ve finally accepted that my slightly different approach goes down a treat (or so the reviews say…) Don’t get me wrong, if the crowd aren’t down for it, I can read the room and make sure to play some bangers and give everyone a good time regardless. But if the crowd is willing, then let the banter commence! My Song List is massive, with songs from the 50s to now, so everyone will be happy, and I also like the occasional request thrown at me to keep me on my toes! People often ask ‘will you play in my living room/back garden or is that too small an event’. The answer is yes I absolutely will, and have done countless times. I’m not Ed Sheeran so I don’t need an arena, I just need a few people up for a good time and some music! But where have I played and what kind of events I hear you ask? Well, deep breath… Hundreds of wedding venues across the UK, hundreds of pubs, Hull City Hall, on board P&O ferries, restaurants, churches, coffee shops, funerals, corporate events, living rooms, back gardens, mansions, festivals, teepees, castles the list goes on (I’m not even joking about any of those). Music makes every event better so come on now, book me, it’ll be amazing.

Encore badges
Lightning fast responses
Average response time under 2 hours
Saved the day!
Booked for an Encore gig with less than 24 hours’ notice
6th Anniversary
This act has been working with Encore for over 6 years
25 gigs
Pro: 25 bookings through Encore
Musicianship
Genres:
Acoustic, Pop, Christmas, 1960s era music, 1970s era music, 1980s era music, 1990s era music, Folk, Jazz, Easy listening, Light music, Originals, Ambient pop, Covers, Top 40, Pop rock, 1950s era music, Swing
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Instruments:
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Event types:
Wedding, Wedding proposal, Funeral / Memorial service, Church service, Hotel / Restaurant event, Bar / Club / Venue event, Private event, Corporate event, Charity event, Concert, Recording session, Theatre / Show, Cruise, Burns night, Birthday party, Christmas party, New Year's Eve
See all event types
Other skills:
Composer, Lyricist, Arranger, Songwriter, Instrumental teaching, Theory teaching, Composition teaching
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Phil's Song list

If the song you are looking for isn’t on this list, please get in touch as it may have recently been added. This repertoire expands frequently. Artists whose names begin with ‘The’ will all be under T for ‘The’, such as ‘The Beatles’. There are also several Christmas songs that are not listed.
• A-ha – Take on Me
• Adele – Make You Feel My Love
• Aerosmith – Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing
• Aloe Blacc – I Need a Dollar
• Amy Winehouse – Valerie
• Arctic Monkeys – I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor
• Arctic Monkeys – Mardy Bum
• Avicii – Hey Brother
• Avicii – Wake Me Up
• Bastille – Pompeii
• Beautiful South – Don’t Marry Her
• Beautiful South – Perfect 10
• Ben E. King – Stand by Me
• Beyoncé – Ave Maria
• Beyoncé – Halo
• Bill Withers – Lean on Me
• Black Eyed Peas – Where is the Love
• Blink 182 – All the Small Things
• Blur – Parklife
• Blur – Song 2
• Bob Dylan – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door
• Bob Marley – Three Little Birds
• Bobby Darin – Beyond the Sea
• Bon Jovi – Livin’ on a Prayer
• Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run
• Bruno Mars – Just the Way You Are
• Bruno Mars – Marry You
• Bryan Adams – Heaven
• Bryan Adams – I’ll Always Be Right There
• Bryan Adams – Summer of ‘69
• Bryan Ferry – Let’s Stick Together
• Buddy Holly – Rave On
• Busted – Glad I Crashed the Wedding
• Busted – Year 3000
• Calum Scott – Dancing on My Own
• Calum Scott – You Are the Reason
• Cascada – Everytime We Touch
• Cat Stevens – Father and Son
• Cat Stevens – Wild World
• CeeLo Green – Forget You
• Chainsmokers – Closer
• Chainsmokers – Paris
• Cher – Believe
• Chris Stapleton – Tennessee Whiskey
• Christina Perry – A Thousand Years
• Christina Perry – Jar of Hearts
• Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode
• Clean Bandit – Rather Be
• Coldplay – A Sky Full of Stars
• Coldplay – Yellow
• Colin Haye – Overkill
• Courteeners – Not Nineteen Forever
• Culture Club – Karma Chameleon
• Daniel Powter – Had A Bad Day
• David Gray – Babylon
• Dermot Kennedy – Outnumbered
• Dermot Kennedy – Power Over Me
• Dermot Kennedy – Rome
• Dire Straits – Sultans of Swing
• Dolly Parton – 9 to 5
• Dolly Parton – Jolene
• Don McLean – American Pie
• Ed Sheeran – Bad Habits
• Ed Sheeran – Castle on the Hill
• Ed Sheeran – I See Fire
• Ed Sheeran – Lego House
• Ed Sheeran – Perfect
• Ed Sheeran – Shape of You
• Ed Sheeran – Tenerife Sea
• Ed Sheeran – The A Team
• Ed Sheeran – Thinking Out Loud
• Elbow – One Day Like This
• Electric Light Orchestra – Mr Blue Sky
• Ella Fitzgerald – Dream a Little Dream of Me
• Ella Henderson – Yours
• Ellie Goulding – How Long Will I Love You
• Elton John – I’m Still Standing
• Elton John – Rocket Man
• Elton John – Tiny Dancer
• Elton John – Your Song
• Elvis Presley – I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You
• Elvis Presley – Jailhouse Rock
• Erasure – A Little Respect
• Eric Clapton – Wonderful Tonight
• Eva Cassidy – Songbird
• Feeder – Buck Rogers
• Fleetwood Mac – Don’t Stop
• Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way
• Fountains of Wayne – Stacey’s Mom
• Frank Sinatra – Fly Me to the Moon
• Frank Turner – The Way I Tend to Be
• Garth Brooks – Friends in Low Places
• George Ezra – Blame it on Me
• George Ezra – Hold My Girl
• George Ezra – Paradise
• George Ezra – Shotgun
• George Ezra – Budapest
• George Ezra – Hold My Girl
• George Michael – Careless Whisper
• George Michael – Faith
• Gerry Cinnamon – Belter
• Gerry Cinnamon – Sometimes
• Glen Campbell – Rhinestone Cowboy
• Good Charlotte – The Anthem
• Gorillaz – Feel Good Inc.
• Gotye – Somebody that I Used to Know
• Green Day – Time of Your Life
• Green Day – Wake Me Up When September Ends
• Guns ‘n’ Roses – Sweet Child o’ Mine
• Harry Nilsson – Everybody’s Talkin’ at Me
• Harry Styles – Watermelon Sugar
• Here Comes the Bride (Guitar Arrangement)
• Hunter Hayes – Wanted
• Imagine Dragons – Walking the Wire
• Jack Johnson – Banana Pancakes
• Jack Savoretti – Apologies
• Jack Savoretti – Written in Scars
• Jackie Wilson – (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher
• Jackson 5 – Blame it on the Boogie
• James – Sit Down
• James Arthur – Falling Like the Stars
• James Arthur – Say You Won’t Let Go
• James Bay – Hold Back the River
• James Bay – Let it Go
• James Blunt – Goodbye My Lover
• James Blunt – I’ll Be Your Man
• James Blunt – You’re Beautiful
• James Morrison – I Won’t Let You Go
• Jamie Lawson – Wasn’t Expecting That
• Jason Mraz – I Won’t Give Up
• Jason Mraz – I’m Yours
• Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah
• Jessie J – Domino
• Jessie J – Pricetag
• John Denver/Hermes House Band – Country Roads
• John Legend – All of Me
• Johnny Cash – Ring of Fire
• Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’
• Justin Bieber – Anyone
• Katy Perry – Firework
• Keane – Somewhere Only We Know
• Kenny Rogers – The Gambler
• Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire
• Kings of Leon – Use Somebody
• Kodaline – The One
• Kygo – Firestone
• Lady Gaga – Pokerface
• Lewis Capaldi – Someone You Loved
• Lonestar – Amazed
• Lukas Graham – 7 Years
• Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird
• Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama
• Magic – Rude
• Marc Cohn – Walking in Memphis
• Maroon 5 – Moves Like Jagger
• Maroon 5 – This Love
• Marvin Gaye – Heard it Through the Grapevine
• Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
• Matt Maltese – As the World Caves In
• McFly – All About You
• McFly – Obviously
• Men at Work – Land Down Under
• Metallica – Nothing Else Matters
• Michael Bublé – Have I Told You Lately
• Mika – Big Girls
• Mumford and Sons – I Will Wait
• Mumford and Sons – Little Lion Man
• Mungo Jerry – In the Summertime
• Muse – Starlight
• Neil Diamond – I Am I Said
• Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline
• Neil Young – Heart of Gold
• Neil Young – Thrasher
• Newton Faulkner – Dream Catch Me
• Newton Faulkner – Feels Like Home
• Nickelback – Rockstar
• Nizlopi – JCB Song
• Oasis – Champagne Supernova
• Oasis – Don’t Look Back in Anger
• Oasis – Half the World Away
• Oasis – She’s Electric
• Oasis – Wonderwall
• One Direction – Little Things
• One Direction – What Makes You Beautiful
• Otis Redding – Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay
• Owl City – Fireflies
• Paolo Nutini – Last Request
• Paolo Nutini – New Shoes
• Passenger – Let Her Go
• Percy Sledge – When a Man Loves a Woman
• Phil Oakey – Together in Electric Dreams
• Pink – Raise Your Glass
• Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
• Plain White Tees – Hey There Delilah
• Prince – Purple Rain
• Queen – I Want to Break Free
• R. Kelly – I Believe I Can Fly
• Radiohead – Creep
• Rag ‘n’ Bone Man – Human
• Razorlight – America
• Razorlight – Before I Fall to Pieces
• Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Under the Bridge
• Rhianna – We Found Love
• Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up
• Robbie Williams – Angels
• Robbie Williams – Feel
• Rod Stewart – Handbags and Gladrags
• Rod Stewart – Maggie May
• Ronan Keating – When You Say Nothing at All
• Sam Cooke – What a Wonderful World
• Sam Smith – Money on My Mind
• Sam Smith – Stay with Me
• Scouting for Girls – Heartbeat
• Sia – Titanium
• Simon and Garfunkel – Mrs. Robinson
• Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars
• Stereophonics – Dakota
• Stereophonics – Handbags and Gladrags
• Steve Earle – Galway Girl
• Stevie Wonder – Isn’t She Lovely
• Stevie Wonder – Superstition
• Stone Sour – Zzyzx Road
• Stone Sour/Corey Taylor – Bother
• Survivor – Eye of The Tiger
• System of a Down – Roulette
• Taio Cruz – Dynamite
• Take That – A Million Love Songs
• Take That – Back for Good
• Take That – Patience
• Take That – Rule the World
• Take That – Shine
• Take That – Up All Night
• Taylor Swift – Shake it Off
• Tears for Fears – Everybody Wants to Rule the World
• Tenacious D – Tribute
• The Animals – House of the Rising Sun
• The Beach Boys – Sloop John B
• The Beatles – Blackbird
• The Beatles – Hard Day’s Night
• The Beatles – Here Comes the Sun
• The Beatles – I Wanna Hold Your Hand
• The Beatles – Let it Be
• The Beatles – Saw Her Standing There
• The Beatles – Twist and Shout
• The Buggles – Video Killed the Radio Star
• The Calling – Wherever You Will Go
• The Commitments – Mustang Sally
• The Contours – Do You Love Me
• The Dubliners – I’ll Tell Me Ma
• The Dubliners – Whiskey in the Jar
• The Dubliners – Wild Rover
• The Four Tops – I Can’t Help Myself
• The Goo Goo Dolls – Iris
• The Greatest Showman – A Million Dreams
• The Greatest Showman – Tightrope
• The Hoosiers – Worried About Ray
• The Housemartins – Happy Hour
• The Human League – Don’t You Want Me
• The Killers – Human
• The Killers – Mr. Brightside
• The Kinks – Sunny Afternoon
• The Kooks – Naïve
• The Kooks – She Moves in Her Own Way
• The La’s – There She Goes
• The Lumineers – Ho Hey
• The Marvelettes – Please Mr. Postman
• The Monkees – Daydream Believer
• The Monkees – I’m a Believer
• The Pogues – Dirty Old Town
• The Proclaimers – 500 Miles
• The Rolling Stones – Start Me Up
• The Script – For the First Time
• The Script – Man Who Can’t Be Moved
• The Shires – Daddy’s Little Girl
• The Spencer Davis Group – Keep on Running
• The Strokes – Last Nite
• The Temptations – My Girl
• The Verve – Lucky Man
• The Weekend – I Feel It Coming
• The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
• The Who – Behind Blue Eyes
• Thin Lizzy – The Boys are Back in Town
• Tom Odell – Grow Old with Me
• Tom Walker – Leave a Light On
• Tom Walker – You and I
• Tones and I – Dance Monkey
• Tony Christie – Is This the Way to Amarillo
• Toploader – Dancing in the Moonlight
• Tracy Chapman – Fast Car
• Train – Drive By
• Train – Hey Soul Sister
• Train – Marry Me
• U2 – With or Without You
• Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl
• Vance Joy – Riptide
• Vengaboys – We’re Going to Ibiza
• Walk the Moon – Shut Up and Dance
• Westlife – World of Our Own
• Wheatus – Teenage Dirtbag
• Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance with Somebody
Customer questions

What do your clients love most about your performances?

Most background style bookings say they love the tasteful ambience that it adds to their event. However, when the crowd are actively listening, I’ve often been told people enjoy my down to earth stage presence and banter. I’m not a ‘butlins style’ entertainer; I work in a more genuine and playful manner, with some banter with the crowd in there too!

Which venues have you performed at in the past?

The list is endless! I have worked in over a hundred wedding venues, right across the UK. I have done residency work for various hotels and chain restaurants (e.g. Slug and Lettuce, Village Hotels, Harvester), aboard P&O Ferries, and have also played on large stages such as Hull City Hall, and Middleton Hall.

Which artists have you been most influenced by?

This would be hard to pinpoint, but I have influences from many well known artists such as George Ezra, Ed Sheeran, but also some lesser known artists such as Ben's Brother, and Jack Savoretti.

What is the most high profile gig you've performed?

Probably the Star Search Finals at Hull City Hall!

What if my timings change after I've booked you?

I always try my best to be flexible to help ensure your event runs as smoothly as possible. If timings change slightly in the run up to the event just let me know. As long as the timing change isn't hugely different, it's rarely a problem at all!

Can you provide an iPod/DJ service before and between your sets?

At your request, I am happy to put a playlist on through my system during any of my breaks, so there are no silent periods. If you require my sound system for playing music before or after my performance, this can be arranged for an additional fee, please enquire for further details. I can also bring a DJ style lighting rig for partying into the night.

How much time do you need to set up?

This is dependent on the venue, and what you require from me but in a really simple set-up, I can usually be ready in around 30-45 minutes. In some more complex set-ups, such as very large or oddly shaped venues, it can sometimes be around an hour or more.

Can I pick the songs you play from the set list?

If you would like to look through my repertoire and select a list of songs you would like to be in the set, I'm happy to work with you and ensure I work my setlist around those choices. I’m also quite happy to take requests on the night! If I know them, and they match the vibe of the room, it makes it more enjoyable for everyone!

Do you bring all the equipment you need to perform?

Absolutely everything. The only thing that will be required on your end is a reliable power source. Having said this, most of the time, my power usage is very small, and I can even bring a battery powered PA in some scenarios, such as outdoors.

Can you learn song requests before the event?

If a song you want isn't in my repertoire, please enquire as there may be a chance I've recently learnt it! If this isn't the case, I have different packages to accommodate for learning requests for your event, which I will be happy to do.

Phil's Prices

Last updated: 2024

Note: prices may vary based on travel distance. For an exact quote, click “Check availability”.

Standard Prices
Performance durationPrice
Short performance (up to 15 min)£225
Up to 1 hour£250
Up to 2 hours£312.50
Up to 3 hours£437.50
Packages
Wedding ceremony
This includes music before the service begins, an aisle song, music during the signing of the register, and exit song, and music as guests leave.
£300
Drinks reception
Two performances of up to 45 mins each during your drinks reception
£300
Wedding ceremony + Drinks reception
- Music before the service begins, aisle song, music during the signing of the register, exit song. - 2 x 45 min performances at the drinks reception.
£495
Phil
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5 out of 5
67 verified reviews
Satisfaction
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5.0
Professionalism
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5.0
Communication
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5.0
Punctuality
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5.0

Phil's Reviews

From Encore customers:

ES
Emma S
1 year ago
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5 out of 5

Amazing, Amazing,Amazing!!!!! Phil made our event the success that it was - and hats off to him he played to 40 rowdy hens!!! His song choice , his ability to read the crowd, his banter , his response to requests….his patience with the bride to be who duetted with him a lot of the night 😂😂….I can’t fault any of it . Oooh and I forgot to mention his amazing vocals . What a guy , what a performer……100% recommend and 100% will book again . Thanks Phil - you were a star ⭐️

SS
Sean S
1 year ago
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5 out of 5

Phil was a great addition to our Wedding Reception; the perfect ambience in the sunshine and our guests and us thoroughly enjoyed his performance.

NK
Natasha K
2 years ago
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5 out of 5

Phil was amazing! We had a small house party with 20 people (kids and adults) and he entertained us all! The kids loved him and so did the adults. We gave him an idea of the types of music and artists we liked with about 3 must have songs and he then pulled a brilliant set together for us that got everyone up and dancing for most of the night. I would definitely recommend him! and I would definitely use him again!

JN
Joanna N
2 years ago
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5 out of 5

Phil was fabulous! A great singer and a splendid chap! Thank you Phil!

Read all 34 reviews

From other customers:

JH
John H
5 years ago, for a Birthday party in Hull
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5 out of 5

Back on Track performed at my fathers 80th birthday in December 2018. Fabulous guitarists and singers. Excellent time keeping, professional, organized and well presented. The whole family from 8mths to 80 were singing along to old classics and newer current songs. Vast array of songs sung. Talented singers, wonderful for all types of parties or functions. Background music or front of house act! 5 ***** would use them again any day!

A
Adam W
5 years ago, for a Birthday party in Withernsea HU19
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5 out of 5

Booked for a 30th birthday, Great duo, highly recommended, a great night was had by all, many thanks.

Read all 43 reviews