Phil Underwood

Phil Underwood is a versatile folk/roots musician, singer/songwriter, playwright and actor who performs traditional music and his own traditionally influenced tunes and songs with a warm personality and professional attitude. A multi instrumentalist on melodeon, concertina, fiddle, guitar, banjo, whistle and percussion, he can play most folk/roots genres, including British Folk, Cajun, Creole, Blues, Shanty, World, Appalachian, Rock and Roll, European, French Café, French Bal, Breton, Barn Dance, Contra, Zydeco, Pop, Reggae, Ska, Country, Singer/Songwriter. He sings in English, French, German, Low German, Auvergnat, Hungarian Gypsy, Russian, Gaelic. . He trained for the stage at The National Theatre and was personally invited by renowned actor and musician John Tams to audition for the part of Songman in the West End show War Horse. He has also performed at Wembley Arena with comedian and musician Bill Bailey (playing punk music on the melodeon). Phil's previous bands include The Creole Brothers and folk band Kara. He was also the musician with the renowned Fishwives Choir and has appeared on their charity video and several TV and Radio appearances, including BBC Breakfast, BBC Songs of Praise and the World Service. His most recent TV appearance was in January 2017 on Robson Green’s Tales of the Coast. He regularly guested with the famous Delta Ladies trance blues/roots duo. Currently Phil plays several instruments with folk band The Pitmatics and a new folk/roots duo DryWood - also listed in Encore. Phil’s first stageplay “Roses and Castles”, which includes several of his own compositions, had its debut with a professional cast on 20 October 2016 at The New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth. His new duo stage show “Boat Horse” - featuring stories and original songs and poetry about the canal - is currently touring.