Phil Edgeley, is an English born singer/songwriter who now resides in Australia. His music draws upon influences ranging from Delta Blues masters such as Robert Johnson, Fred McDowell and Skip James, to contemporary artists such as Chris Whitley, Jeff Lang and Chris Smither and of course, from his English background taking in the styles of Richard Thompson, John Renbourn, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. His lyrics deal with the multi-facets of life, often pulling no punches and delivered in a direct fashion but still somehow emotive and thought provoking rather than hard. Phil spent several years touring as a solo artist and has released 3 albums to date, “This Life” (2005) “Then and Now” (2007) and “In the Blood” (2011). Harmonica icon Jim Conway describes Phil as a..”Masterful guitarist and songwriter who performs with great heart and passion.”
Now add Trudy Edgeley, an Australian Singer Songwriter, hailing from a rich musical background founded in both her family’s strong Gospel lifestyle and her rich heritage, which is a melting pot of cultures including Solomon Islands, Jamaican, Irish and Indigenous. She was drawn into performing at an early age following her Father’s footsteps into the Church choir, and then quickly forging a reputation for performing solo with her guitar at many religious gatherings over the following years. Aside from the religious influences, and, on account of growing up in a large family, Trudy was also exposed to a kaleidoscope of music ranging from Bessie Smith and Carole King onto Neil Young and Bob Dylan to name a few. Trudy creates a blend of vocals and a sound that reflects not only her influences and passion for her music, but also her desire to tell the stories of her rich ancestery. This results in well crafted songs that have the added interest of fascinating stories which have been seldom told.
Despite perfoming many shows together in earlier years Trudy’s commitments shifted to successfully managing Phil’s solo persuits. This continued until a chance “jam session” one day in Queensland when it became very apparent that Trudy could no longer ignore the desire from deep down in her blood to start performing once again. In 2012 The Duo act “Phil & Trudy Edgeley” was born, or to be more accurate, reborn. Phil’s British Folk/Blues songwriting & musical style has now been infused with Trudy Edgeley’s tropical tempos, melodies and haunting vocals to create a new sound and also a new album “Oneplusoneequalsthree” (2014). This is their debut duo album, so titled after repeated comments from audiences that it is difficult to believe that so much sound can come from two people, it is already receiving comments along the lines of, “great variation of styles” “packed with energy” and “impressive songwriting”.
On the road to producing this album Phil & Trudy Edgeley have been criss-crossing the continent tirelessly over the past few years carving out their way as a genuine musical force. They have systematically earnt themselves a reputation for creating striking original material and delivering shows which are not only drenched in power and dynamics but still manage to be soulful and sensitive. The songs, which are a result of the infusion of cultures and influences, produce a musical experience that is both captivating and intriguing.
With the vast experience gained from performing together throughout the UK, Europe and the USA, Trudy and Phil encapsulate the dynamics of a great partnership on both a musical and a personal level. Throw in a little humour and interaction with the audience and the result is a show that draws the listener into a new and exciting place.
Phil and Trudy Edgeley, hard to define? …yes, worth further investigation? …Absolutely!
