The definitive Phil Collins tribute
Chris O'Connell
Lead Vocals
When you buy tickets to our show for the first time, we are under no illusion that the reason behind it is the music of the main man, Phil Collins. Whether you are a fan of the Genesis era or the solo material, you need convincing at a tribute show that the musicians feel the same way you do about the notes they sing and play.
Within seconds of seeing our ‘Phil’ you will realise that your fears are unfounded. The vocals, the mannerisms, the passion of the telling of the story and each heartfelt word, Chris O’Connell perfectly captures our hero. From the sad ballads to the rocking pop songs, it’s obvious that Chris has spent a lot of time watching Phil perform. Watch his antics with the tambourine, see him interact with the band and then take to the drum stool or keyboard to finish the job of proving he has it all to capture the essence of Mr Collins on stage.
Chris is a lifelong Phil Collins and Genesis fan from Liverpool. He has a background in theatre and acting, skills of which are shown on stage in abundance! Chris comes from a musical family of multi instrumentalists. He started his stage career as a guitarist, with Dave Gilmour a major influence. At 19, a friend persuaded him to listen to the Genesis albums ‘A Trick of The Tail’ and ‘Wind and Wuthering’, and the young Chris’ love of Genesis and Phil Collins began. Come to chat to him at the end of a show and hear his knowledge of the hero he so naturally portrays….once you get him chatting though, you might never get home….
Favourite Music: Oh you mean apart from Phil and Genesis? The Beatles, Steely Dan, Yes, Supertramp, Elton John, Whitney Houston.
Chris’ favourite Phil Collins song to perform is ‘In the Air Tonight’
His favourite Phil album is ‘Face Value’ and he feels Phil’s most underrated song is ‘Don’t let him steal your heart away’.
Tom Lark
Trombone, Backing Vocal & Percussion
The charisma of our resident Trombonist is something that most of our fans comment on when they first see our show! There is no doubt that Tom loves to be on the stage, playing directly to the audience with his infectious style at every opportunity. Watching Tom up there, you can’t help but smile with him!
Tom began in local Big Bands in Somerset, before progressing to the professional circuit playing Soul, Funk and Latin nationally to great acclaim. Tom holds a BA Hons in Band Musicianship, which led him to become a founder member of our band, and the leader of the And Finally Horns. Inspired by running our horn section Tom went on to create the dbhorns along with Sam Adams and Michael Maddocks.
Favourite Music: Tower of Power, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Incognito, Fred Wesley
Previous Projects: Tom has worked with performers such as Yazz, Omar, Ray Davies, Kula Shaker, The Drifters, Jamie Johnson and Natasha Watts.
Tom’s favourite Phil Collins song to play is ‘Misunderstanding’.
Nina Cox
Backing Vocals
Nina is a Liverpool based, Yorkshire born Vocalist who's been singing for as long as she can remember. Her love of singing took her to Chester University where she became more accomplished as a performer. Following graduation in 2013 she has sung with the likes of Martha Reeves, Chic and Nile Rogers, supported Craig Charles on his DJ tours and has also sung many a happy couple down the aisle. Nina has a hugely eclectic taste in music covering everything from Neo Soul to Heavy Metal and most styles that fall in between. Nina's favourite Phil Collins song to sing is Easy Lover!
Jake Thornton
Saxophone
Jake ( "Jake the Snake" ) was 8 years of age when he first started playing the saxophone, he grew up playing at gigs, weddings and jam sessions with his Dad's band. His love of performing drew him to study at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. since coming to Birmingham from Scotland Jake has played with many bands from many genres from jazz, funk, rock, pop to folk and classical music.
Bands include The Electric Swing Circus, The Best of Wham, Punch The Sky, The Argent Quartet as well as working as a freelance saxophonist. Jake has featured on several albums including Fairport Convention's "Myths and Heroes" as well as recording with his own band Punch The Sky.
Favourite Phil Collins song - Against All Odds
Molly Ellis
Keyboard, Backing Vocal
Molly is a Southampton based, suffolk born keys player, having been playing since the age of 6. Graduating in 2020 with a BA in music, she has been a freelance musician and photographer for a number of years, and by day lends those skills to teaching both subjects at secondary school. Molly first dived into the world of synthesisers at fifteen, after deciding to rerecord Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds in it's entirety (this is still a work in progress!) Many eighties synthesisers, samples and vocoders later, she's more than equipped to take on Phil Collin's discography, and has thoroughly enjoyed bringing such a fantastic set of songs to life for the show.
Molly's favourite Phil Collins songs to play are Don't Let Him Steal Your Heart Away and Behind The Lines.
Spencer Hedges
Drummer
Spencer started playing drums at the age of four. He was taught by Syd Lawrence
Orchestra’s drummer Lionel Rubin, whilst also studying tuned percussion at the Leicester School of Music. At the age of eight, he performed in his debut concert sitting in with the Neil Lewis Orchestra, playing a featured number with legendary jazz trumpeter Kenny Baker.mAt the age of 13, Spencer worked on his first show. This was Gilbert and Sullivan’s Iolanthe. Spencer is a member of the RSC’s jazz house band, backing musicians on monthly jazz sessions. At the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry, Spencer has worked on their panto for the last 12 years. Recent credits include: A Mad World My Masters (RSC/UK Tour); Sister Act (Curve Theatre
Leicester); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Nottingham Theatre Royal); Copacabana, West Side Story, Fame, Crazy For You and Mack And Mabel.
Over the years, Spencer has worked with bands such as the Fat Chops Big Band, MYJO (Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra); The Birmingham Big Band; Godfrey Gale (A Stevie Wonder Tribute); The Sounds of Simon (A Simon and Garfunkel Tribute); Typically Tina (A Tina Turner Tribute); and Vocalist Matt Ford. Spencer has also worked on five shows for Celebrity Cruise Line / Celebrity Productions. These are: Believe, Chandelier, Colours of Life, Elysium & Elements. Spencer is delighted to be working with And Finally...Phil Collins. His favourite numbers from the show are, Behind the lines, In the Air Tonight and I Cannot Believe it’s True.
Michael Maddocks
Trumpet
Being the youngest member of the horn section, and having to deal with the huge character of Tom Lark alongside him, you would think that Mike would stand by and let the show revolve around him. But certainly not! Mike is a force of his own on stage, and you only have to hear the high notes on the trumpet and see him taking centre spotlight to realise that! The fun that the horn section has relates to the personalities, and Mike draws the laughter from both Sam and Tom with his on-stage antics!
Mike studied at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and now plays trumpet professionally and teaches both trumpet and piano.
Other projects: Sincerely Yours: Vera Lynn at 100 years theatre tour, musical theatre including Phantom of the Opera, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Sister Act, and recordings for the BBC, most recently the Daphne Sounds Expensive radio series.
Favourite Music: David Sanborn, James Brown, Maceo, George Clinton, Memphis Horns
Mike’s favourite Phil Collins song to play is ‘You’ll Be in my Heart’
Ross McTeague
Guitar
Bringing a touch of Daryl Stuermer to the band is Ross McTeague. Hailing from the sunny seaside town of Weymouth and now living in the UK's 'concrete jungle' (that some call London) Ross is chuffed to be a part of our show!
Since graduating with a BA in Popular Music Performance, he juggles with a busy gigging calendar having appeared in UK theatres with tributes such as 'Fastlove' and 'Genesis Visible Touch'. As well as getting his groove on on the stage, he's got a real passion for musical theatre and has been in pit bands for productions of We Will Rock You, Carrie, Legally Blonds and The Addams Family. Ross recently spent his Christmas in Liverpool at the M&S Bank Arena for their yearly panto. Playing in these settings has given Ross vital performance experience, and has tuned his ear to take real care with dynamics and the details of performance which he hopes to share with you at our next gig!
You'll Be In My Heart is a favourite Phil Collins song for Ross.
Sian Unwin
Bass
Taking the role of Phil’s famous bass player, Leland Sklar, we have Southampton based player Sian Unwin. Sian started her journey into music playing Clarinet, she took playing the Bass seriously at University where she developed her style of tight, groove focused playing. Having grown up listening to the likes of Earth Wind and Fire, Parliament, Funkadelic, Marcus Miller and Level 42, Phil Collins was never going to be far away! The melodic and delicately crafted basslines would be a joy for any musician to play and bring to life.
Favourite music - Earth Wind and Fire
Sian's favourite Phil song to play is Easy Lover (Behind the Lines a close second)