FOLK legend Phil Beer will be picking up his fiddle to give a concert in Wallingford later this month.

Phil, one of the most popular ambassadors for acoustic roots music, will be playing the gig at the Corn Exchange on Saturday, December 15, at 7.45pm.

His visit follows that of his Show of Hands partner Steve Knightley to the town’s St Mary’s Church last September.

Their link-up as Show of Hands in the early 1990s has proved an enduring one, with the duo selling out London’s Royal Albert Hall three times and being voted Best Live Act by the public at the 2004 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Phil is perhaps best known as a top flight fiddler, playing in the all-star line-up, Feast of Fiddles, but his musical skills most certainly don’t stop there. He can also turn his hand to playing slide, Spanish and tenor guitar, mandocello, viola, mandolin and South American cuatro, not to mention contributing rich vocals to boot.

Born in Exminster, Devon, he started to play fiddle, guitar and mandolin while still at school in Teignmouth and habitually credits the late Davey Graham’s Folk, Blues & Beyond as his inspiration for acoustic music.

He played his first gig at 14 and started working as a duo with Paul Downes in 1974 (their Live at Nettlebed CD has recently been released). He was then in the Arizona Smoke Revue and a key member of Johnny Coppin’s band.

Phil’s career includes touring with Mike Oldfield and being a member of the Albion Band from 1984 to 1991. Phil, who has his own Phil Beer Band, guested on the Rolling Stones’ Steel Wheels album and Steve Harley’s Poetic Justice.

Tickets for Phil’s gig at the Corn Exchange are priced at £12 and are available from the box office on 01491 825000 or or online at: www.cornexchange.org.uk/