All systems are go for the outing to America this month coming, where Philip is scheduled to appear with his band at the Music of the Rivers festival, Metro Park in Jacksonville Florida on Thursday 16th November. Artist and band fly over to join the other acts on the previous Monday, taking a day to adjust and soundcheck and remaining there until the weekend. Playing to a 15000 capacity outdoor crowd, the outfit takes to the stage among a roster of acts that features the Cowboy Junkies, the Popes, Aslan and The Frames among others.

The festival's main aim is to draw attention to the plight of rivers worldwide and to raise awareness for their protection and preservation, focussing on this occasion on the wildlife, waters and habitats of the Ichetucknee River threatened due to industrial development. Check it out at the festival website, www.musicoftherivers.org, where further news and updates of the event and surrounding issues may also be had.


Tours, TV and Traffic

Philip and co. finally managed to tumble off the autobahns and autoroutes on the continent and make it home in one piece. Twelve days filled with "Are we there yet?" and "What town is this?" have nevertheless left artist and band spoiling for more after some of the warmest audiences and venues we've ever come across. The camp would especially like to pay tribute to the extraordinary welcomes extended to them... particularally Miriam, Barry, Sevrin and Martina of Mulligan's in Amsterdam, Simkees in Edam and Yann, Eddie and Manon in Nijmegen, and would like to assure punters one and all that they'll be back...

Dutch TV caught up with the outfit during their stay in Amsterdam and managed to capture gig footage and an interview for posterity. Meanwhile, stories of marauding fiddle players with hammers have been doing the rounds (Well, Rosina...?), not to mention even more hideous tour anecdotes which the artist swears he'll be using in future extortion rackets... Roll on the next tour!


Irish Government Endorses Philip's Work

In light of Philip's recent international activities, the Irish government, through its Cultural Relations Commitee at the Department of Foreign Affairs, has recognised Philip's work and granted its support and endorsement of the artist in his capacity of representing this facet of Irish modern culture abroad. The artist would here like to express his appreciation for the Cultural Relations Commitee's recognition and support, and feels honoured to receive this charge as a representative for Irish music and will continue to forge ahead in ways to vitalise the profile of Irish culture in other countries.