Phil Vandel has traveled the world with his music and continues to bring his passionate, unique style of singing, songwriting, and guitar playing to audiences around the world at over 200 dates a year. He grew up in St. Joseph, MO and after High School, spent most of the 90’s on the road throughout the U.S and Canada with groups based out of Minnesota and Montana playing 6 nights a week. Only making it home a couple of times a year made a normal home life impossible, but it helped him develop a strong work ethic and an enormous repertoire of songs.
In 1997, Phil became the lead singer / guitarist for the multi-award winning group, Dixie Cadillacs. With the Cadillacs, Phil traveled the United States performing at a wide variety of venues and completed an album in Nashville, TN titled, “It All Comes Down To Love” with a video for the first single, “Feels Like Rain”. In 2000, the Dixie Cadillacs were voted the NACA “National Country Entertainer’s of the Year” and performed at over 300 concerts, Colleges, and Universities that year as a direct result of their NACA success.
In 2007, Phil joined forces with long-time friend, Matt Snook, to form VANDELSNOOK. The sky was the limit for this talented duo and they performed worldwide for countless fans. In 2008, they co-wrote and released a single titled, “Welcome Home” for a military event in Telluride, CO. American Airlines loved the message and became a sponsor for the group. A whirlwind of appearances and performances of the powerful song quickly followed including a trip to Germany, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq in 2009. While together, the duo brought their music everywhere from Hollywood to DC and spent holidays with soldiers at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, CA. Phil and Matt devoted thousands of hours working directly with organizations like American Airlines’ Veteran’s Initiatives, America’s Huey 091 Foundation, Coalition to Salute Americas Heroes, Wounded Warrior, Patriot Guard Riders, Snowball Express, Skyball Express, and a multitude of others to raise funding and awareness for active, wounded, and families of fallen Soldiers.
As 2010 started, VANDELSNOOK dissolved allowing Phil the opportunity to step out on his own and he hasn’t looked back. In May 2010, Phil and his band were given the opportunity to travel back to Kuwait and Iraq for headlining performances. When asked what he wanted to accomplish on the proposed tour, he said, “I want to go to all of the places the other entertainers either can’t or won’t go”. The tour planners assembled a record-breaking trip that was exactly what he had asked for. The group performed 16 shows in 9 days at different Bases, FOB’s, JSS,s and COB’s, including a show for the USAF that wasn’t scheduled. Though fighting a cold, Phil volunteered the additional show on the group’s only day off!
In September 2010, Phil was asked to join Sen. John McCain and many other patriots to remember the events of 9/11 at an enormous “Patriot Days Celebration” event in Phoenix, AZ.
November 2010 brought another opportunity to travel overseas with his full band to Kuwait and Iraq. Phil added a special treat for the soldiers as he invited long-time friend and magician, BJ Talley. The soldiers loved the “Music & Magic” tour and once again, it was deemed a success.
2011 brought performances from Arizona to Washington, DC and an enormous amount of shows in the Midwest.
2012 may very well be the best year yet as the band is negotiating upcoming shows worldwide once again.
If you’re looking for track record and experience, you’ll have to look hard to find more than Phil and his band. If you’re looking for passion and talent… no need to look any further. The Phil Vandel Band delivers an incredible mix of original music, country, rock, and blues with the drive of a brand new artist and the soul of one that’s spent a lifetime in the business.
Here’s a brief list of highlights from the last few years…
• September 2007 –Performed with Aaron Tippin at Worlds Of Fun in Kansas City, MO
• October 2007 –Performed at Patriot Fest in Dallas, TX.
• May 2008 –Performed at Kellerfest Military appreciation event in Keller, TX
• October 2008 –Performed at Voodoo Lounge in Kansas City, MO with Keith Anderson
• October 2009 –Performed at Skyball Military event in Dallas, TX with Michael Peterson, Gary Senise, and others....
• June 2008 –Performed at CMA Fest (Fan Fair) with Trent Tomlinson and others…
• November 2008 –Performed at Tony Orlando’s annual Veteran’s Day event at the Welk Theatre with Tony, Larry The Cable Guy, Oliver North, The Lennon Sisters, Barbara Fairchild, and others…
• December 2008 –Performed at the Coalition To Salute America’s Heroes convention in Orlando, FL with Gary Senise and Stephen Cochran.
• December 2008 –Performed at Balboa Naval Medical Hospital in San Diego, CA for service members too wounded to go home for the Holidays.
• March 2009 –Performed at the Young President’s Organization military fundraiser in Hollywood, CA with Billy Bob Thorton & The Boxmasters.
• March 2009 –Performed at the Outlaw Cigar Company bike rally to salute the troops.
• March 2009 –Performed at Q-104’s Birthday Bash at the Beaumont Club in Kansas City, MO with Little Big Town, Love & Theft, and Jessica Harp.
• April 2009 –Operation Iraqi Children mission to Germany, Bahrain, U.S.S. Eisenhower, Kuwait, and Iraq. Delivered school supplies to Iraqi children in Ballad, Iraq and performed at various venues for the troops with celebrities like Tony Orlando, Stephen Baldwin, and LeeAnn Tweeden.
• May 2009 –Performance on Fox 4 Morning Show.
• May 2009 –Performed at Texas Ranger’s Stadium for America’s Heroes Race in Arlington, TX.
• May 2009 –Performed at Wounded Warrior National Rodeo in Milano, TX.
• June 2009 –Performed at CMA Fest (Fan Fair) with Michael Peterson, Buddy Jewel, and others…
• June 2009 –Performed at KFKF Concert with Tracy Byrd in DeSoto, KS
• July 2009 –Performed at Salute to America’s Heroes event in Harrisonville, MO
• August 2009 –Performed at Military Ball in Savannah, GA
• September 2009 –Performed at Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser in Kansas City, MO
• October 2009 –Performed at Skyball Express military event in Dallas, TX with Tony Orlando, Gary Senise, Lee Greenwood, and others…
• November 2009 –Scheduled to perform at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN with Ricky Skaggs, Vince Gill, and Amy Grant.
• November 2009 –Performance at the Welk Theatre in Branson, MO with Tony Orlando and others for the Annual Veteran’s Day show (Sold Out).…
• November 2009 –Performance with the Blue Man Group, Terry Fater, and Wayne Newton in Las Vegas, NV for a military appreciation event.
• January 2010 –Officially formed and began contracting dates as “The Phil Vandel Band”.
• April 2010 –Performance with Gary Allen at the VooDoo Lounge in Kansas City, MO.
• May 2010 –Performance at “Cars For Heroes” event in Kansas City, MO.
• May 2010 –“The Phil Vandel Band” Kuwait / Iraq 2010 Tour. (May 15-30, 2010)
• June 2010 –Started writing and demos for new album.
• September 2010 –Performance at “2nd Annual Patriot Day Celebration” in Phoenix, AZ with Senator John McCain.
• November 2010 –“The Phil Vandel Band” Kuwait / Iraq 2010 Tour. (Nov 4-15, 2010)
• July 2011 –Headliner performance at Fort Belvoire, VA.
• September 2011 -“3rd Annual Patriot Day Celebration” in Phoenix, AZ with Tony Orlando and Joe Nichols.
• November 2011 –Performance at Skyball in Fort Worth, TX.
Phil has shared the stage with: Charlie Daniels, Montgomery / Gentry, Gary Allen, Aaron Tippin, Love & Theft, Keith Anderson, Tony Orlando, Larry The Cable Guy, Del Reeves, Kitty Wells, Hank Thompson, 3 Dog Night, Brewer & Shipley, Ricochet, Chad Brock, Tracy Byrd, David Kersh, Little Big Town, Dierks Bentley, Johnny Lee, Lee Roy Van Dyke, Mike Schneider, John Anderson, Joe Nichols, The Lennon Sisters, Barbara Fairchild, Carter’s Chord, Jessica Harp (The Wreckers), Michael Peterson, Buddy Jewel, Trent Tomlinson, Gary Senise & The Lt. Dan Band, Billy Bob Thorton & The Boxmasters, and many others…
