Led by composer, multi-instrumentalist and virtuoso classical guitarist Neil Campbell, The Neil Campbell Collective's music, combines classical guitar, cello, bass and drums in virtuosic musical workouts, extended instrumental excursions and chilled out acoustic episodes which mix classical, rock, folk, drum and bass and other musical styles into seamless tour de forces of musical adventurism. As a live band they are a powerhouse of originality and a force to be reckoned with.
The core of the band consists of Neil along with cellist Nicole Collarbone (a seasoned session cellist and mainstay on the Liverpool acoustic scene) and drummer Mark Brocklesby (a studio engineer, producer, composer and drummer percussionist extraordinaire). They are augmented by other great musicians for gigs and recordings (see above) - hence the 'Collective' concept.
The group developed from a band called Triad formed around 2003, and evolved into the progressive/experimental band of today from an initial starting point in the acoustic singer songwriter tradition. They are based in Liverpool, UK, but their members and associated musicians hail from across the UK.
In May 2005 they privately released their debut album '3 O'Clock Sky' (2005), which received local, national and international airplay, with tracks selected for the Pulse Rated Hot Trax playlist. Their album has also attracted an array of excellent reviews from local (Liverpool Daily Post, Live Magazine) and national press (Acoustic Magazine, Classic Rock Society) and dedicated web sites (www.dprp.net, www.progressor.net, www.babyblaue-seiten.de)
They will be releasing their second album 'Particle Theory' early in 2008 (when Liverpool is European Capital of Culture). Their new album is conceived as a continuous musical experience and is constructed from a small handful of themes or motives which are placed into a very wide genre-defying range of musical contexts.
Neil Campbell has always maintained an expanding interest in music that doesn't fit easily into pigeonholes such as rock, folk, jazz etc. His musical influences include English and European Progressive Rock bands (especially classic bands of the 70s), Ambient Music, Systems Music (Minimalism, Post-Minimalism and Totalism), Jazz Rock, early 20th Century French Impressionism and all sorts of Electronic music (amongst other things).
In 1998 he simultaneously became involved with the free improvisation scene and the acoustic scene in Liverpool. Around this time he also began postgraduate studies in Music through the University of Liverpool.
Through his MA studies he developed an approach to music making based around musical systems or processes which run automatically without composerly intervention. This has resulted in the production of an ongoing body of work, much of which has been recorded and has received airplay on Radio 3's Late Junction.
There are four main strands to his music making; as a solo classical guitarist, as a systems music composer, as one half of singer songwriter duo Campbell Todd and as composer and performer with The Neil Campbell Collective.
Bio courtesy of Neil Campbell
Neil Campbell Discography
Through the Looking Glass (Mayfield 2003) – 
music for solo guitar
Rotations (2003) –systems music for multiple pianos
Night Sketches (2004) – music for solo guitar
3 O’Clock Sky (2005) – with The Neil Campbell Collective
Assembly (2005) – a 3 CD set of systems music compositions for various ensemble configurations
Fall (2006) - With Nicole Collarbone – music for guitar and cello
Campbell Todd (2007) - with Stuart Todd
Particle Theory (2008) - with The Neil Campbell Collective
The Neil Campbell Collective
Personnel
Neil Campbell - Guitars and other Instruments
Mark Brocklesby -Drums and Percussion
Nicole Collarbone - Cello
Andy Maslivec - Bass
Jeff Jepson - Vocals
Victoria Melia- Vocals
Christine Horton - Keyboards
Alex Welford - Horns
Stan Ambrose - Celtic Harp
Anne Taft - Soprano
Dan Owens- Bass
Liam Carey- Bass
Biography
Web Sites
