Phil Henry

THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU!
When I got the mid-April email that I was accepted as a finalist at the Kerrville Folk Festival’s Grassy Hill New Folk contest, I felt surprised, exhilarated, validated, and very excited.
However, the second thought running through mind was, “How on earth am I going to PAY for this?”
I am completely humbled by everyone who answered my plea with generosity and enthusiasm. My friends, family, fans, and fellow musicians have all tossed a few bucks in the virtual tip jar. Helen Demong and Carol Vossler hosted an all-star hometown Saranac Lake coffeehouse at Bluseed Studios, and Sarah DeCandio at Ben & Jerry’s hosted a show in my new hometown of Rutland. So many musicians joined up with me to help the effort, including ADK Jazz, Steve Borst, the Saranac Lake High School vocal ensembles, Kristian McFerren, Tyler Johnson, and Mike Ray.
It has all added up! I now have my ENTIRE trip paid for: plane tickets, car rental, hotel. I can’t thank you enough.
The first day of the contest, and the day that I’m competing, is Saturday, May 24th. Send me some positive energy! I’ll be taking lots of photos, audio, and video and I’ll post it as soon as I’m back.
Keep checking www.philhenryband.com for all the updates and information, and you can always find out more at: http://www.kerrvillefolkfestival.com/newfolk.htm
I’ll try my best to make you proud!
Phil
The actual bio is here...
Phil Henry is a singer-songwriter and music educator in southern Vermont. He performs funky folk originals which reflect the aspirations and realities of his small town upbringing.
Phil grew up in Saranac Lake, NY and attended college at the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. His music was featured in a recent episode of NPR's "Car Talk," he performed in the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist Showcase, and he won Vermont's 2005 SolarFest Singer-Songwriter Competition. He has opened for folk notables Colleen Sexton, Rachel Bissex, and Vance Gilbert.
His new EP, "Folk 2.0" is described as "an untraditional look at traditional folk music." It features five American folksongs injected with modern sensibilities. The eighteenth-century ballad "Blow The Candles Out," for example, becomes a funk tune, energized by Wayne Davison on sax, Sean Fitzpatrick on drums, Will Patton on jazz-tinged mandolin, Glendon Inglalls on upright bass, and powerhouse vocalists Kyle Hayden and Brian Hough. Other tracks include "Shady Grove," "Kilkelly, Ireland," "Barbara Allen," and "Man of Constant Sorrow."
Phil's discography:
Folk 2.0 (2007)
Detour (With Gary Moon and Kate Blain) (2006)
No Place Like Here (2005)
Board By Board (2000)