Phil Bates

Phil’s folk performing career blossomed as the guitar player for Newcastle’s iconic bush band Rum Culls. Since then he’s added various guitars and banjos to his wardrobe of instruments and can now be found strumming and warbling regularly around folk clubs and festivals. Phil loves traditional songs. And songs that sound traditional, too! He likes to inhabit a song and make it his own. As a guitarist, singer and, sometimes banjo player, he interprets each song in his own way, with care and the utmost respect because the song is everything! Phil is also a radio presenter and co-hosts Classic Folk with Jane Klein every Wednesday, 9:00pm to 10:00pm, on Newcastle's 2NURFM.