“Fil Campbell … has been likened to a lot of female performers, but can be compared to none. She has a unique voice and a knack of making every song her own.” The Word (Ireland)

Fil has been working as a full time performer since the late 1980s. Throughout the 90s she toured extensively throughout Europe, Ireland and the UK 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.

Her first CD, The Light Beyond the Woods, was recorded in 1992 in the world famous Spring Studios in Rostrevor, home of the Sands Family. Dreaming was recorded in 1996 - the title song, a commentary on life in Northern Ireland during the turbulent 90s, was written while travelling in Germany. It won the prestigious Letterkenny Song Festival. Beneath the Calm was a further collection of Fil's songs, released in 2002.

Fil's first band, Misty Morning, named after a song she wrote while still at school, accompanied her through her years at Queens University in Belfast where she also became part of the local promoting scene. After a stint running the now extinct Fringe Festival, she travelled with bands for a few years and eventually settled back in Belfast where she worked as a music publicist and promoter for many of the biggest gigs in Ireland at the time, under the supervision of the late great Jim Aiken. During this time she continued singing with bands and as a solo performer and backing vocalist, and added radio presenting to her portfolio as the regular voice of folk music on the airwaves of local BBC Radio.

Some useless information!

• Fil is the Irish spelling of Phil – she changed her name from Phil to avoid confusion with the male Phil Campbell’s in the music industry of which there are many. In fact, there is a town in America called Phil Campbell?!! True!! Fil is short for Philomena.
• She has a degree in Arts from Queen’s University, Belfast - one of her main subjects being Music and her speciality Russian Opera.
• Fil worked as a music publicist for many years, promoting major shows like Queen at Slane Castle, the Bolshoi Ballet, and Rod Stewart. She also promoted shows for Ulster Television, local radio stations, and even promoted a Dolphin Show (!)
• Fil was a backing vocalist for RTE Television and for several studio sessions, sang in a cabaret band in the Middle East and sang in several operas. She plays flute, piano and guitar and has also played harp.
• Fil was also a radio presenter for BBC Radio Ulster for 7 years, presenting folk-based evening and daytime shows as well as health documentaries and some late night programmes.
• The song “Dreaming” won the Letterkenny Song Contest.
• Fil was writing winning songs as early as 1977 when she was a prize winner at the Manorhamilton Song Contest and in a special teenager’s song contest in Dublin.
• While she was still at school Fil reached the final stages of the Voice of Ireland competition, represented Ulster in the Scor na nOg and sang with several showbands in a series of Peace Concerts across Northern Ireland.
• The year she graduated Fil directed the Belfast Fringe Festival and was the first promoter to give U2 a gig in the North of Ireland. They supported Squeeze.!
• Fil was 5 when she first appeared on stage.