About Fil
 

"…a totally lovely collection of songs, affectionately performed by Fil in her characteristically warm, sensitive yet commanding vocal style. The songs all suit her down to the ground, and she luxuriates mildly in the expression of these old-fashioned sentiments." - David Kidman, Living Tradition (Jan 01, 2009)

Fil Campbell is an Irish singer from Co. Fermanagh who mixes traditional and contemporary Irish songs with some of her own compositions. She has recorded 5 CDs to date: 3 recordings of original and contemporary material, followed by 2 charming CD collections of popular Irish folk songs from the 30s and 40s. These recordings were the focus of a TV documentary series in Ireland in 2006 called Songbirds which profiled the lives and music of women singers from the early 20th century.

Fil's concerts are always fun and a great opportunity for audiences to join in - whether solo, or accompanied by one or both of her regular musicians, Brendan Emmett and Tom McFarland.

 

Fil Campbell grew up in Belleek in Co. Fermanagh in the North of Ireland. She was brought up on the folk songs that were popular in Fermanagh and Donegal and spent her childhood immersed in music. With both ceilidh bands and singers in the family, music was all around and performance was part of everyday life, both at home and at school. She started singing semi professionally while still at school, returning to full time performing in the 1990s after a spell working as a music publicist and radio presenter for BBC Northern Ireland. Belleek is the home of the world famous Belleek Pottery, where Fil's father worked all his life, and where she in turn spent several Summer holidays working.

Fil returned to her roots for a project called Songbirds, which has formed the focus of her last CD and her current release Farewell to Cold Winter. A collection of charming Irish folk songs that formed the musical backdrop to Ireland of the 30s, 40s and 50s, Songbirds accompanies a TV show and DVD of the same name, which profiles the women singers of that period. Fil both performed in and narrated this documentary series which is already being seen as a valuable contribution to Irish traditional music archives.

Dublin's Evening Herald commented that her voice was eminently suited to these old gems and she has a knack of making every song sound brand new. Part of the Irish music industry all her life, Fil has recorded 3 earlier CDs of original and contemporary Irish songs, has appeared on countless radio and television programmes at home and abroad, has toured extensively, and has presented her own radio and TV shows in Ireland.

Fil has been working as a full time performer since the late 1980s. She toured extensively throughout Europe, Ireland and the UKin the 90s, building up a strong and loyal following on the folk circuit, mainly across Germany, Holland and Belgium, accompanied by her husband and musical partner, percussionist Tom McFarland.

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Discography