

VIDEOS
BIOGRAPHY

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Within a year, Sayce was touring internationally with Jeff Healey’s band and performing at the world’s most prestigious festivals. Since that time, Sayce has put in multiples of that 10,000 hours, recording and touring for four years with musical icon Melissa Etheridge, then launching a solo career and establishing a rabid fan base in Europe and beyond, opening shows for the likes of ZZ Top and Deep Purple. Sayce is a rare artist, a combination of outstanding songwriter, unparalleled guitarist, soulful singer, and electrifying performer.
Sayce’s highly anticipated release, The Wolves Are Coming, was recorded at Station House Studios in Los Angeles with Grammy-award-winning engineer Mark Rains. The sessions were produced by Sayce, mixed by Brian Moncarz (Toronto) and Mark Rains (Los Angeles), and released on Sayce’s label, Atomic Gemini, with exclusive license to Forty Below Records. Sayce contacted his long-time collaborators, drummers Michael Leasure, Aaron Sterling and Fritz Lewak, Fred Mandel on piano and organ, and vocalist Bernie Barlow.
Songs like “Oh! That Bitches Brew” and “Backstabber” hit like hurricanes, capturing the intensity and heaviness of the pandemic era during which this album was conceived. Sayce sings, “Lion locked in a cage, hostage filled up with rage, hunted for the jewels in my crown, I’ve been tortured, tied up underground”, his vocals as fierce as the thunderous guitar riffs. “Lady Love Divine” explores the light in contrast to darkness with an uplifting, foot-stomping, up-tempo funk groove and memorable songwriting that delivers hooks in all the right places. Ballads like “It’s Over Now” and the magical instrumental “Intuition” round out Sayce’s signature fuzz tones and sledgehammer mountain-sized drum grooves with delicate, intimate, and dynamic performances. The Wolves Are Coming is a career highlight, exemplifying Sayce’s commitment to his craft and using the power of music as a uniting force to welcome in the light during incredibly turbulent times.
Sayce effuses, “I am so excited about this record and where I am at this time. These new songs represent my personal journey since the release of Spirit Rising and my commitment to growing as a musician and a human being. I am grateful to have realized my vision for this record by incorporating these stellar musicians, songs carefully penned, and my determination around the overall creative process.”
Born in Wales, raised in Toronto, and Los Angeles-based, Sayce’s love of the guitar started at an early age when his parents introduced him to many of the influential greats - notably, Albert King, Freddie King, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Albert Collins, Jeff Healey, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck. Sayce performed on Uncle Kracker’s album No Stranger to Shame, which featured the single “Drift Away,” a song that topped the Billboard charts for 28 weeks. He toured and recorded with Melissa Etheridge, and during this time, Sayce found time to record his first solo album, Peace Machine, with co-producer Michael Nielsen.
In 2015, Sayce made his major label debut with Influence (Warner Music). Recorded with Grammy award-winning producer Dave Cobb, the album spawned strong press notices, a top 20 radio track, and expanded his global audience. The release was followed in 2016 by Scorched Earth, Volume 1 (Warner Music), a captivating live performance documented at Toronto’s Silver Dollar Room. Sayce’s electrifying live performances leave fans awestruck — a devastating house-shaking appearance at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival in New York City was heralded as one of the top performances of the event.
In 2020, during the global pandemic, Sayce released his seventh full-length album, Spirit Rising (Warner Music). The self-produced recording quickly became his most successful album without the support of tour dates or traditional promotion. Undaunted, Sayce turned his attention to social media and saw his fanbase grow over 300% — Spirit Rising has now eclipsed 131 million streams on Spotify.
Philip Sayce has set the bar higher than ever with The Wolves Are Coming. This body of work is more powerful, unique, and brash than anything Sayce has written or recorded to date. Be ready, be warned. You can run, but you can’t hide… The Wolves Are Coming.
“These songs and stories came into focus during my darkest times. The Wolves Are Coming represents a bridge — a connection between despair and hope — that invites broken spirits to be transformed and healed.“ - Philip Sayce.
HIGHLIGHTS
Signed to Hypnotic/MCA after Sayce’s first showcase in Toronto fresh out of highschool to release Philip Sayce Group album with international accolades in Billboard and Guitar Player magazine
Invited by musical icon and multi-platinum award winning musician, Jeff Healey, to record and tour the world for four years, including performances at the prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival and Pori Jazz Festival.
Performance at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival at Madison Square Garden and highlighted as one of the top performers of the festival by Premier Guitar Magazine
Invited to record and tour with Uncle Kracker while “Drift Away” was #1 for 28 weeks in America. Sayce can be heard on the Lava/Atlantic album No Stranger To Shame.
Producer John Shanks introduces Sayce to Melissa Etheridge. Sayce goes on to collaborate with Etheridge for the next four years, joining her band and touring the world, recording in the studio. Philip can be heard on Etheridge’s “Lucky Live”, “Greatest Hits”, “The Awakening”, and on the Oscar winning song, “I Need To Wake Up”.
Performed the Oscar winning song, “I Need To Wake Up” to an audience of 1 Billion people at the Academy Awards. The studio recording, which Sayce is featured on, can be heard in Al Gore’s award-winning film “An Inconvenient Truth”.
Performance at The Grammys with Melissa Etheridge and Joss Stone honoring Janis Joplin. Performance of “Cry Baby/Piece of My Heart” topped #1 on iTunes in Canada and the U.S.
Performed “God Bless America” at the Democratic National Convention with Melissa Etheridge during Barack Obama’s rise to presidency.
Performance on The Oprah Show with Melissa Etheridge. Standing ovation from Oprah who exclaimed “Philip… when you went to space on the guitar… I thought, I’m going to learn how to play!”.
Releases five albums with Mascot/Provogue Records, resulting in Amazon and iTunes #1’s across Europe. Countless headlining tours across Europe and The UK, including direct support tours with Deep Purple and ZZ Top.
Releases “Influence”, produced by multi Grammy award winner Dave Cobb.
Signs with Warner Music Canada, “Influence” becomes Sayce’s major debut. Sayce also releases “Scorched Earth Live EP” with Warner Music Canada.
Sayce’s cover of Ten Years After classic “I’d Love To Change The World” becomes a Top 20 active rock radio hit in Canada.
Performance at Fuji Rock Festival in Japan, Montreal Jazz Festival, and countless additional international headlining dates.
Sayce’s “Morning Star” hits 10M streams on Spotify.
Spirit Rising released in 2020 during the pandemic has over 12 million streams on Spotify alone without touring, publicity, or any radio campaigns.
380,000 monthly listeners and over 51,000 followers on Spotify. Almost 1 million streams per month as of June 2023.
RELEASES
TESTIMONIALS
TOUR
PAST TOUR DATES
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25 NOV 23
The Garage
London, UK
24 NOV 23
Brudenell Social Club
Leeds, UK
23 NOV 23
The Auditorium, Òran Mór
Glasgow, UK
21 NOV 23
The Cluny
Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
20 NOV 23
Band On The Wall
Manchester, UK
19 NOV 23
The Fleece
Bristol, UK
14 OCT 23
The Baked Potato
Studio City, CA, US
07 OCT 23
Rawa Blues Festival 2023
Spodek, Katowice, Poland
19 SEP'23
Petit Campus
Montreal, QC, Canada
17 SEP 23
L'Anti Bar & Spectacles
Québec City, QC, Canada
15 SEP 23
The Rainbow
Ottawa, ON, Canada
14 SEP 23
King Of Clubs
Syracuse, NY, US
10 SEP 23
The Casbah
Hamilton, ON, Canada
09 SEP 23
The Horseshoe Tavern
Toronto, ON, Canada
07 SEP 23
Maxwell's Concerts & Events
Waterloo, ON, Canada
05 AUG 23
Purple Fiddle
Thomas, WV, US
04 AUG 23
Big Bend Blues Bash 2023
Pomeroy, OH, US
03 AUG 23
Court Street Grill
Pomeroy, OH, US
01 AUG 23
The Token Lounge
Westland, MI, US
29 JUL 23
OC Vibe Guitar Festival 2023
Honda Center
Anaheim, CA, US
14 July 23
Mostar Blues & Rock Festival
Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
13 July 23
KSET
Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
12 July 23
Zappa Barka
Belgrade, Serbia
9 July 23
Suceava Blues Festival
Suceava, Romania
7 July 23
GuitarScio Festival
Battipaglia, Italy
4 July 23
Muzeum Obchodu
Bratislava, Slovakia
3 July 23
Rockhouse
Salzburg, Austria
1 July 23
Gastroblues Festival
Paks, Hungary
30 June 23
Cittanova Blues
Novigrad, Croatia
29 June 23
Bluesiana
Velden, Austria
26 June 223
The Raven
Straubing, Germany
24 June 23
De Bosuil
Weert, Netherlands
23 June 23
Wood Stock Guitares
Ensisheim, France
22 June 23
Dal Mississippi al Po Festival
Piacenza, Italy
18 June 23
Listen to the Blues
Marbella, Spain
13 May 23
The Baked Potato
Studio City, CA, US
08 Apr 23
The Baked Potato
Studio City, CA, US
11 Mar 23
The Baked Potato
Studio City, CA, US
05 May 23
Dallas International Guitar Festival
Dallas, TX, US
25 Feb 23
2GTHR Live stream
11 Feb 23
2GTHR Live stream
28 Jan 23
2GTHR Live stream
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27 Aug 22
The Baked Potato
Studio City, CA, US
26 Aug 22
The Baked Potato
Studio City, CA, US
11 Aug 22
Maxwell's Concerts and Events
Waterloo, ON, Canada
10 Aug 22
The Casbah
Hamilton, ON, Canada
07 Aug 22
The Rainbow
Ottawa, ON, Canada
06 Aug 22
The Rainbow Bistro
Ottawa, ON, Canada
30 Jul 22
King of Clubs
Syracuse, NY, US
29 Jul 22
The Ardmore Music Hall
Ardmore, PA, US
27 Jul 22
The Music Room
Yarmouth, MA, US
23 Jul 22
2GTHR Live stream
18 Jul 22
Maui Sugar Mill Saloon
Tarzana, CA, US
28 May 22
2GTHR Live stream
14 May 22
2GTHR Live stream
07 May 22
Dallas International Guitar Festival
Dallas, TX, US
23 Apr 22
The Baked Potato
Studio City, CA, US
22 Apr 22
The Baked Potato
Studio City, CA, US
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20 Sep 19
The Baked Potato
Studio City, CA, US
14 Sep 19
The Five Points Theater
Barrie, ON, Canada
13 Sep 19
The Rainbow Bistro
Ottawa, ON, Canada
12 Sep 19
The Rainbow Bistro
Ottawa, ON, Canada
11 Sep 19
Sans Souci
Belleville, ON, Canada
10 Sep 19
The Casbah
Hamilton, ON, Canada
07 Sep 19
Private Event
Binghampton, NY, US
06 Sep 19
King of Clubs
Syracuse, NY, US
05 Sep 19
118 North
Wayne, PA, US
15th-20th Aug 19
Keeping the Blues Alive
Mediterranean Cruise
27 Jul 19
The Baked Potato
Studio City, CA, US
04 May 19
Dallas International Guitar Festival
Dallas, TX, US
02 May 19
Two Frogs
Ardmore, OK, US
06 Mar 19
The Baked Potato
Studio City, CA, US