Pharis Romero – along with her husband Jason – connect the 1920s to nearly the 2020s in an incredibly honest way – with constant threads of vibrantly close duet singing, poignant songwriting, hand-made banjos, and old acoustic guitars. It’s no surpise that she is a Voice Works favorite. Pharis is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, teacher, and a respected figure in North American acoustic music circles. She has performed and instructed at many of the major North American festivals and venues, including Wintergrass, the Winnipeg and Calgary Folk Festivals, and the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes. A native of Horsefly, deep in the Cariboo interior of British Columbia, Pharis developed her style through both classical training and older tradition-bearers.

Writing songs about hard living, love and loss, her music has been played around the world. Pharis began performing at an early age with her family band, The Patenaude Family. She’s a founding member of the Haints Old Time Stringband and of Victoria, B.C.’s Outlaw Social. She currently records, performs, and makes banjos with her husband Jason Romero. She and Jason’s triumphant first album, A Passing Glimpse, won the Americana Album of the Year at the 2012 Independent Music Awards, and was included on many Best of 2011 lists.

In April of 2014, Pharis and Jason joined Garrison Keillor on Praire Home Companion:

Pharis & Jason released their second duo record, Long Gone Out West Blues,in early 2013. It is a record with an adventurous sense of simplicity and a refreshing veteran spirit, in keeping with their love of songs new and old.   The recording has been featured on NPR Music’s Favorite Sessions, Utne Magazine’s February 2013 Monthly Music Sampler, and in Folk Alley’s Hear It First. It also brought a Canadian Folk Music Award for Traditional Singer and a nomination for Traditional Album of the Year, and two Western Canadian Music Awards nominations.