Bio
Scotland’s Shetland Islands, a collection of small rocks straddling the North Sea and the
North Atlantic, might seem an unlikely birthplace for an Americana singer songwriter. But
nourished from an early age on a musical diet of country, folk and rock and roll, Duncan
Phillips always knew he wanted to write his own songs.
Duncan picked up his first guitar at the tender age of eight. By fourteen he was a mainstay of
the local gig and festival circuit. With a sound and sensibility that leans heavily into the likes
of Tom Petty, Steve Earle and Bruce Springsteen, Duncan’s take on Americana rock genre
has won hearts and minds on Melbourne’s live music scene and at national radio stations like
PBS and 3RRR.
If there was any doubt, supporting both Steve Earle and the late Justin Townes Earle showed
the world Duncan has what it takes to stand beside his heroes and titans of Americana. With
three Tamworth Country Music Festival campaigns now under his belt, his dynamic live
performances are opening plenty of industry doors, including an invitation to play the
renowned Deni Ute-Muster in 2022.
On stage, Duncan is complemented by the dynamic pairing of Luke Richardson (Bass) and
Matt Gibson (Drums). With rich vocal harmonies and guitars ranging from fingerstyle
acoustic to face-melting rock, his live show keeps crowds captivated from the first note to the
last.
Since the release of his debut album ‘The Wilderness’ in 2016, which achieved critical
acclaim, Duncan has been busy releasing singles and cementing his reputation as one of
Melbourne’s most popular and hard-working live acts. His highly anticipated sophomore
release, ‘Home on a Saturday Night’, is available from 27 March 2023.