Bruce “Utah” Phillips always had the dream of playing on stage with his son.
But as a kid, Duncan Phillips could never reconcile that in learning to play the guitar, he would be learning one of the very things that kept him separated from his father for so many years.
Duncan performed on stage just shortly after his dad’s death in 2008.
Along with Utah’s old road-worn Guild guitar, Duncan inherited the songs and stories of the people and places that his father wrote about over his 40-plus years of wandering the country.
Duncan performs those songs in tribute to his father at Headliners Jan. 15, in concert with Kate MacLeod and Kat Eggleston.
Duncan first took to the road with his father in the winter of 2000, acting as road manager but joking that everyone knew his father couldn’t be managed.
Duncan lives in the state of Utah and was involved in the recording of Long Gone, a compilation of music from artists in and around that state.
The eclectic group of 20 or so artists includes former music students and band mates of the late Utah Phillips, as well as artists that have been influenced by his vast body of work over the years.
Just as Utah Phillips did, all of the musicians on this recording still call Utah home, and are well established artists in their own right.
Throughout the recording process, all of the guitar work was performed on Utah’s old road-worn Guild guitar, the same guitar that his son now uses on stage to pay tribute to his father.
Duncan also takes a page from his father’s touring manual, taking turns with MacLeod and Eggleston opening the show and playing in the round, so that each concert is a little different every night.
MacLeod and Eggleston formed their duo in 1999 but also work as solo roots-music songwriters and performers.
The Headliners show begins at 7:30 p.m., with doors at 7 p.m. Tickets $10/advance from Long and McQuade, Fascinating Rhythm, Arbutus Music and Headliners; $15/door.
People who bring a bag of non-perishable food for Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank will be entered into a draw for CDs.
Please call 250-753-2323 for more information.