Less than a month after being honoured with the award of a Member of the Order of Australia, guitar maestro Tommy Emmanuel has announced plans to return to his home country this December/January - for a series of special concerts with his brother Phil.

Fans who have witnessed the incredible chemistry and intuitive energy of their live performances have been clamouring for the two to reunite and now they will get their wish. To celebrate 50 years of professional performance together, Tommy and Phil will be hitting the road with the TE All Star band. 3008 was fortunate to interview Tommy about their upcoming tour.

Congratulations on the 50th Anniversary of professional performing, was coming together with Phil for this tour on home soil always on the cards?

Would you believe it’s only the second time in fifteen years Phil and I have toured together? I can’t wait to do this show. There’s nothing like the chemistry with my brother on stage. It all feels so natural and magic happens when we play together. Yet, we can still surprise each other. The two of us together become a third player, who is better than both of us! Phil is probably one of the only musicians on earth who I can not play a note with for five years and then, walk out on stage and do a show totally unrehearsed.

We obviously built up that kind of trust between us when we were in the Emmanuel Family Band as young kids, and, over the last five to ten years of our lives, we’ve matured a lot as players. I think we are much more focussed on what’s important than ever before.

What was life growing up in a family of musicians, was there much sibling rivalry or was it fantastic to be able to jam on a whim, I would imagine growing up in this type of environment would come with a bounty of pro’s and possibly as many cons, what was life like for you growing up in the early days?

When we were six and eight, we learned to play in the family band, and were soon travelling the country, performing in places whether they wanted us or not. It was a crazy childhood, but we both fell in love with the guitar at an early age and that love has stayed with us both ever since. Phil considers himself an electric guitar player, but enjoys playing acoustic guitar as well these days. In fact, these shows will be a rare opportunity to hear me play electric, as well as acoustic, and Phil play acoustic, as well as electric.

When we were younger, we were so adventurous on stage. There were some nights I would say to myself, I wish I had recorded that because it will never happen again! Phil likes big rock anthems, and I do too, but I can only take them for so long. I prefer to tell stories with my music and, because we’re so different, what we do really works together.

On the subject of family, I believe Phil’s daughter Jesse will join you on this 50th Anniversary Tour, will Jesse be making a guest appearance or on stage for entirety of the show?

Jesse is a young singer/songwriter with a country pop sound and will be our Special Guest on the tour. It’s fantastic another Emmanuel is out there playing music and making her own way in music.

What can Australian audiences expect from the tour, will this be a collection of favourites or also featuring new tracks?

The show is going to have a bit of everything. In the first half, Phil and I are going to play some of the duets people love to hear us play, like Mozart’s Rondo alla Turca and some of the old things we used to do when we were kids. We do a little tribute to The Shadows, who were a very important part of our younger life, and we do some stuff with the TE Allstar Band as well. Some bluegrass, solos, duos ... and then, in the second half, we just go for it!

People often ask us who is the better player, but that’s a silly question. I can play some stuff better than Phil and he can play some stuff better than me. We just have totally different styles and music is fun to us.

When you are on stage together performing, what’s happening between you - do you stick to a strict playlist or do you let the music take over?

We’ve poured a lot of energy into getting the right mix of songs for this reunion show. It’s definitely planned, but anything can happen.

What have been the highlights of the past 50 years performing professionally?

Exactly that! I have been lucky enough to perform professionally for the past 50 years! I often just sit still and think I’m so bloody lucky. I get to do the thing I love most in the world – play music – and I’m lucky enough to STILL be doing it.

TOMMY AND PHIL EMMANUEL 50TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT TOUR 
When: Sat 11 December 
Where: Palais Theatre, St Kilda

www.tommyemmanuel.com

www.entertainmentedge.com.au