Phil is busy as both a solo artist and as frontman for the country band The Woolgatherers. During many years of playing in cover bands in pubs, clubs and small festivals, Phil developed his performance skills and was also writing his own songs. With the encouragement of friends and fellow musicians, Phil began performing his own material in the early "naughties". The Woolgatherers who were first formed in 2009 when several musicians from a variety of bands playing in the Scarborough and York area got together to perform some of Phil's songs. Later that year they released their first album, entitled “Long Way To Indigo” recorded and produced by Simon Wright at the Imphut Studios in York. The album, was released in 2009 received impressive reviews from Sam Inglis in Sound On Sound, and also in The Link magazine. Sam Inglis describes Phil’s voice as “more Knopfler than Sinatra” and Phil’s own love of songwriters such as Guy Clark, Nick Lowe and Bob Dylan is also evident in the delivery. The songs range from Blues to Folk to Country, sometimes with a touch of Swing. Four of the songs from the album were commended as semi-finalists in the UK Songwriting Contest.

The second album entitled “ I See” was released in July 2013, recorded by Sam Forrest (from Nine Black Alps and The Sorry Kisses) and produced by Dave Keegan, and is probably more reflective than the first, but still contains the same variety of styles, influences and energy. Three of Phil’s songs, Desperate To Dance, One More and The Till have been played on BBC Introducing.

Currently Phil is in rehearsals with The Woolgatherers, working on new material, having recorded the demo tracks for the next album. The tracks were recorded in one take at Reel Recording Studios, and were of such quality that BBC Introducing played one of the songs called The Key on Radio York. The band will be going into the studio in the next couple of months to record the songs. In the meantime, Phil is also busy with solo gigs, having recently supported Chris Difford, and also played at Musicport in Whitby, and the Spa Complex in Scarborough. On a weekly basis Phil runs a couple of open mic sessions, encouraging young singer-songwriters and others taking their first steps towards live performance.