Phil Bates & Tina McBain have a bit of a history together; way back they played together as a duo, playing all over the country and in 1998 the very successful and critically acclaimed Eleanor Rigby Experience which was a full band project reworking the material of Lennon & McCartney (and a bit of Harrison) came into being. 

The ERE lineup was pretty impressive and featured original Jethro Tull drummer, Clive Bunker, ex member of Fairport and Jethro Tull member Maartin Allcock, Late Night Band guitarist Andy Bole along side Phil and Tina. 

Their most recent project along with original ELO, ELO2 and now The Orchestra member Mik Kaminski, is The Beatles, Blues & Blue Violin Project, which has completed 10 UK tours, but due to Mik's commitment with The Orchestra (ELO pt2) will be finishing in April 2012.

The Eclectic Collection Project is something Phil and Tina have been thinking about for some time.  There are many, many songs that both of them love, but haven't ever performed.  This project is specifically put together so that they can explore the vast array of classic songs that have been sitting in the backs of their heads for years.  There will be reworkings of some great material, all given the fantastic Bates treatment, which so many people appreciate.

Tina is particularly excited about this new project because she can, as Phil says, sing some of her very favourite songs, and talk for hours about them.  (She says she doesnt say a lot - yeah right!)

There will be all sorts of genres, from folk, through blues and into country and rock.  It's again, exactly what it says on the tin - Eclectic!

We look forward to seeing you at the shows.

Tina & Phil