Fingerstylist Phil Heywood Opens the 2008-2009 Sundin Hall Series

Saturday, September 20th

Phil Heywood is the only winner of two national fingerstyle guitar competitions. He is a fingerstyle guitarist with a bluesy swing and the ability to turn an instrumental piece into an arresting lyrical narrative. His lucid playing encompasses the down-home rhythmic groove of a Mississippi John Hurt or Leadbelly, and the sheer fluidity and flair of Leo Kottke.

The internationally renowned Kottke, in fact, once handpicked Heywood to tour and perform duets with him. A soul-grabbing instrumentalist, Heywood draws listeners in with his voice as well, singing in a warm, plainspoken style that blends smoothly with his rock-solid guitar work.

Heywood has been based in Minneapolis-St. Paul since the mid-1980s, performing locally and regionally while also establishing himself in the greater guitar and acoustic music world. He was the 1986 National Fingerpicking Champion at the world-renowned Winfield, KS, music festival, and also won the 1987 American Fingerstyle Guitar Festival Competition held in Milwaukee, WI, an event judged by some of the top players in this field. In addition to performances with Leo Kottke, Heywood played with Chet Atkins on National Public Radio’s A Prairie Home Companion, has performed with fellow acoustic guitar luminaries Peter Lang, Pat Donohue, and Tim Sparks, and has opened shows for such artists as Norman Blake, Greg Brown, John Renbourn, Chris Smither, and Robin and Linda Williams.

He has recorded four CDs: Some Summer Day (1990), Local Joe (1996), Circle Tour (2000), and Banks of the River (2003) as well as appearing on various compilation discs. His September 2008 concert will also serve as a release party for his latest, as-yet-untitled, CD. What one inspired critic wrote of Local Joe applies equally to each of Heywood’s CDs: “Acoustic guitar fans should consider this recording a must have . . . Heywood gives us all something to enjoy for a long time.” (Music Reviews Quarterly).