Phil Emmanuel Memorial Concert

- Live from The Tivoli, Brisbane -

event concept & production by Festival TV

Phil “The Wiz” and Tommy Emmanuel have been the benchmark of electric and acoustic guitar playing for decades, gracing the national and world stage with cheekiness and talent that made them both, the guitarist's guitarist.

On the 24th May, the world lost “The Wiz”, and Tommy lost his big brother to an asthma attack.

To the music industry, Phil was always there when someone needed a hand, and on 7th August 2018, some of Phil's friends and colleagues came together in a memorial concert to pay tribute to their mate.

The sold-out concert was hosted by Phil's good friend and comedian, Chris Franklin and the evening was a gathering of Aussie music icons that have shared the journey, including Tommy Emmanuel, Graeme Connors, Normie Rowe, Mick Pealing (Stars), Peter Cupples (Stylus), Doc Span (USA), Gillian Eastoe and Judah Kelly (The Voice). The “Fargone Beauties” reformed for this concert with their original drummer – Tommy Emmanuel.

As expected, there were wall-to-wall guitarists including Rex Goh (Air Supply), Mal Eastick (Stars), Kevin Borich, Kirk Lorange, Tim Gaze (Tamam Shud/Ariel/Stevie Wright band), Michael Fix, Terry Murray (Fargone Beauties/MMM), China (John Paul Young and the Allstar Band), a stirring video dedication from Phil's hero Hank Marvin, and of course, younger brother and internationally acclaimed Tommy Emmanuel.

Joining Phil's musical colleagues on stage, was his daughter Jesse who has taken up the baton for the next generation of the talented Emmanuel family. It was a bitter-sweet moment for Jesse, as the last time she graced The Tivoli, it was in full musical flight, together with her father and her Uncle Tommy.

“Circumstances did not permit a public memorial for Phil at the time...” said concert organiser 'China' from John Paul Young's Allstar Band, “so after the dust had settled, Mandy (Phil's wife) asked me if I could help put something together that would be fitting to publicly honour him. Once we started making enquiries about who might want to be part of this, the floodgates opened – everyone wanted to show the world, what Phil meant to them, and to be part of the send-off from his musical family.”

The concert was a chronicle of Phil's journey, with bands and colleagues from the beginning, to music icons he shared the stage with, to some of the super-talented young guns he was fostering. It was a roller-coaster of emotions for cast and audience alike, but above all it was just like Phil : no bullshit, cheeky, super-talented, and LOUD. Phil's brother Darcy summed up Phil at his funeral - “Phil didn't chase fame – it chased him. ...but he managed to get away.” Not this time mate. Gotcha. Your turn in the spotlight.