Steve grew up in an environment steeped in creativity. Aged 13, Steve learnt to play the guitar and spent much of his time copying the guitar licks of Scotty Moore. When he first heard the legendary blues men Robert Johnson, Big Bill Broonzy and Lonnie Johnson, it set him off on a long, self-tutored course in the art of Country Blues and Folk guitar. Leadbelly had such a serious effect on Steve that it influenced him to change guitars and style, the rest is history as they say! Now regarded as something of a guru amongst aficionados, he met a young journalist called Mark Knopfler, for an interview. It went well but it was from this first meeting that they found each other to be kindred spirits, in sharing the passion of the early masters of blues guitar. They formed a duo called ’The Duolian String Pickers’. Steve met another like-minded player Brendan Crocker.

Steve had become disillusioned with the music business and had dropped out to paint, and to make/repair hand crafted guitars. Crocker drew him back into playing. Soon he was back at major festivals and being fated by Radio DJ Andy Kershaw. Knopfler in the meantime had some success with a band called ~ Dire Straits! In 1985, all three came together to form the ‘Notting Hillbillies’. It’s publicity was heavily associated with the ’National’ guitar, and it’s arguable that Phillips is partly responsible for the popularity of the instrument since the early 90s, as the band featured his own, hand made guitars. It was Phillips’ own National guitar, which he gave to Mark that appeared on the cover of ’Brothers In Arms’. Steve still occasionally appears with Mark in his band as ’special guest’, he continues to tour regularly with Brendan Croker and perform as a soloist playing some of the very best in country blues, swing and more. Tonight is one such event, and we are pleased to have Steve back in Bristol to play for us. ’’The greatest exponent of country blues in this country today’’

'Now Dig This', magazine. “A consummate guitarist, a National treasure”, ~ Blues in Britain, Magazine, 2005 www.stevephillipsmusic.com www.myspace.com/stevephillipsmusic