Phill Corfield Band

The band started, when was it... about 10 years back? When I met John Sule at a Jam session at The Empire Hotel. Line-ups have changed over the years and for this gig we have Carole Stewart (harmony vocals) and Andrew Jamieson (lead guitar) onboard. The songwriting goes back to 1981. I grew up mainly with English and American pop songs of the 1950s '60s and '70s and I carry that whole time with me.

Early on, with my own creations, I decided to write songs (tell stories) that reflected the culture, the people and the environment of where I live. The first album of songs was with 'The Troubadours of Mercury' in 1986. I got a surprise when Mike Moroney said words to the effect that it was a Dunedin album... whatever that means?

Anyhow, I was pleased with that assessment, as Dunedin slowly became my permanent home after 5 decades of wandering. So something of the place has soaked in. When I look back I realise that most of my songs have been conceived in Otago. The songs would never be what they have become without the bands, all those musicians starting in 1984 with 'The Rag Tag Band'. I write lyrics and melody and all these musicians over the years have used their virtuosity and creativity to bring the songs to life and I am forever grateful for that. There are to date 200 songs written and around 40 that have made the grade. Some like 'Blueskin Bay' and 'That's The Way That It Goes' have stayed vital for over three decades, whilst newer ones like 'Earnscleugh Road' and 'Colac Bay' have also stayed on the setlist. We look forward to playing for the club members in our new venue.