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 Emmanuel.

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.

This will be a rare opportunity for fans to catch Tommy flexing both his electric and acoustic guitar muscles - and only the second time the brothers have toured together in 15 years. This is the complete Emmanuel experience! Singer-songwriter, and Phil’s daughter, Jesse Emmanuel will join the tour as special guest, making it a real family affair.

Recognised internationally as two of the world’s finest guitar pickers, Tommy and Phil have been performing live since the early 60s, when they were just young kids, honing their chops in the Emmanuel Family Band. They’ve gone on to enjoy huge success independently, their careers occasionally intersecting with collaborations on the 1995 album ‘Terra Firma’ and an exemplary performance at the 2000 Sydney Olympics Closing Ceremony.

The iconic fingerpicker, Chet Atkins, called Tommy “one of the all-time greatest guitarists on the planet”. Rock historian Glenn A. Baker said of Phil that “[his] musical prowess is so astonishing that there are times when the man becomes the guitar and the guitar becomes the man.”

“There’s a magic that happens when Phil and I play together”, says Tommy. “It’s like the two of us together makes a third player who’s better than both of us. After 50 years, we can still surprise each other on stage”.

TOMMY & PHIL EMMANUEL CONCERT DATES

Thu 9 Dec - Lyric Theatre, Star City Casino, Sydney Sat 11 Dec - Palais Theatre, Melbourne Sun 12 Dec - Royal Theatre, Canberra Fri 17 Dec - Wrest Point, Hobart Sat 18 Dec - Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide Mon 20 Dec - Burswood Theatre, Perth Wed 19 Jan - Blazes - West League Club, Tamworth Thur 20 Jan - Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane Sat 22 Jan - Jupiters, Gold Coast.

Aussie guitar god Tommy Emmanuel has been named ‘Best Acoustic Guitarist’ by readers of the respected US ‘Guitar Player Magazine’. This is the second year in a row that Tommy has been recognised by the magazine.

The issue also named Brad Paisley ‘Best Country Guitarist’ and young Australian Smokin’ Joe Robinson, who Tommy has helped mentor, as ‘Best New Talent’.

The award is a testament to Emmanuel’s increasing popularity around the world. Although he lives in Nashville, Tommy spends most of the year on the road, playing to packed houses in all corners of the globe, communicating his music through what he calls the ‘universal language’ of the guitar. 

2010 will see him tour Italy, Canada, America, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Russia, Poland and the UK, before coming home to Australia in December for a special 50th Anniversary reunion tour with his brother and fellow-guitarist, Phil. This tour will also feature Tommy’s hand-picked All-Star band and will be the first time the Emmanuel Brothers have toured together since 2004.

Robinson is also making a name for himself globally. He spends most of his time at the moment touring the US to sell out crowds.