Phil Taggart

Taggart was born in Derry but was raised in Omagh Co. Tyrone where he attended the Christian Brothers Grammar School, Omagh.

He played bass in the band Colenso Parade from age 15 to age 24. The band went on several tours throughout the UK and supported the likes of Richard Hawley, Dirty Pretty Things and The View.

Taggart started putting on gigs in his hometown at age 16, frustrated at not being able to get into 18+ gigs. Soon after this, he began to DJ regularly at local nightclubs. By the age of 17 he had begun writing for popular music magazine Alternative Ulster.

While studying at the University of Ulster, Taggart won the BBC/Skillset Young Broadcaster of the Year award for a project he made about the 'Representation of Women in the Music Media.'

In 2008, Taggart helped set up and worked behind the scenes on the Omagh community radio station Strule FM. The station went on to pick up an award at the 2009 Sony Radio Academy Awards.[2]

In 2010, Taggart was asked to stand in for regular presenter Rigsy on BBC Radio Ulster's Across the Line programme after taking part in a work experience scheme. After that he went on to cover on Across The Line regularly.

He would go on himself to get nominated for 'The Rising Star' Award at the Sony Radio Academy Awards in 2012 even though he didn't actually have a full time show.

In December 2011, Taggart became the host of BBC Introducing in Northern Ireland as part of Radio 1's regional output. The programme, broadcast on Sunday nights, showcases new music from Northern Ireland.

Taggart also began appearing on some of the Radio 1's national programmes, covering for Sara Cox, Huw Stephens, Dev and Gemma Cairney.

Starting Monday 7 January 2013, Taggart, alongside Alice Levine, took over the prestigious 10 pm – midnight show, Monday to Thursday, on Radio 1. The show was described by the BBC as "an energetic mix of specialist and upfront new music, entertainment and guests."[3]

In September 2014, the station's schedule changed. The 10 pm – midnight show hosted by Taggart and Levine was replaced by a 10 pm – 1 am show hosted by Huw Stephens Monday - Wednesday and The Residency DJs on Thursdays. Taggart then went on to host a Thursday night programme focusing on new music from across the genres from 9 pm to 10 pm.

With Annie Mac taking over Zane Lowe's weekday programme, Taggart was given the Sunday night show (10 pm – 1 am). This was in addition to his Thursday night programme (9 pm – 10 pm).

Taggart dropped his Thursday night show in April 2016 and currently hosts the Sunday 7 pm – 9 pm slot in which the first 2 hours are dedicated to playing new chilled out tracks with the final hour concentrating on exclusively brand new sounds. The Sunday show has many popular features such as the Bedtime Mix, Future Firsts and the Sunday Night Support Club.

From Monday 10 October 2016, Taggart presented a new show at the station entitled Radio 1's Specialist Chart/Hype Chart, in which the most frequently played tracks on Radio 1's specialist shows from the previous 7 days are counted down. This airs every Tuesday morning from 3 am to 4 am. This show was axed at the start of September 2019.

From Sunday 9 September 2018, Taggart presented a brand-new slot on BBC Radio 1 entitled Radio 1's Chillest Show. The new show is a mix of cutting edge mellow beats and music with features such as The Chill Mix and The Radio 1 Piano Session. Thom Yorke, Liam Gallagher, Billie Eilish, Dodie, Alessia Cara, Yellow Days and Mac DeMarco have taken part in the Piano Session to date.

Taggart appeared as part of the BBC Three television coverage of Radio 1's Big Weekend 2013, which was held in Derry. He was also the face of BBC Northern Ireland's television coverage.

On Thursday 19 December 2013, Taggart fronted Christmas on Benefits, a documentary on BBC Three in which he travelled to Bristol to meet a group of young jobseekers, and set them the mission of organising a Christmas party on a benefits budget.[4]

Taggart presented Best Before on Channel 4 in 2015, each episode featuring a guest curator. They included Wolf Alice, Gilles Peterson, Big Narstie, Eats Everything, Naughty Boy and Sleaford Mods.

Taggart has done various work for BBC Northern Ireland TV.

Taggart owns an independent record label called Hometown Records. The labels first release was Raise Your Love, an EP by Rhodes on 28 October 2013. They have gone on to sign and release music from Rat Boy, Rejjie Snow, Inheaven, TOUTS, Wildes, Yonaka, Grace Acladna, Speelburg, Love Ssega.

Phil was a resident at Ibiza Rocks, in Summer of 2016 as well as holding a monthly residency at Koko in Camden. He tours extensively around the country and Europe playing a high energy and versatile style of music taking in the broad spectrum of everything dance music.

Phil runs a club night in East London called Slacker. It began in June 2015 with the first London gig from Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes with a support lineup of Inheaven, VANT and Breakage. Slacker has sold out venues such as Moth Club, Oslo, The Victoria and is currently resident in the legendary London club XOYO. Acts to have played Slacker: Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Rat Boy, Blossoms, Slaves, Big Narstie, The Japanese House, Isaac Gracie, Pretty Vicious, Swim Deep, Beaty Heart, Fakear, Bishop Briggs, Day Wave and many more.

In September 2018, Taggart launched "Phil Taggart’s Slacker Podcast", a weekly podcast looking at the careers of musicians whom guest on the podcast. Both Series 1 and Series 2 have gone to Number 1 on the Music Podcast Charts. Guests have included Johnny Marr, Fatboy Slim, Christine + The Queens, Dizzee Rascal, Wolf Alice and many more.

In May 2019, Phil launched his first book entitled 'Phil Taggart's Slacker Guide to the Music Industry.' The book is a guide for artists to hep navigate them through the topsy turvy world of releasing music. It was done through 2 years of extensive research and over 70 contributions from top music industry people and artists such as Run The Jewels, Biffy Clyro, Little Simz, Charli XCX and many more.

Has presented many roles for Vevo including their 2016 Lift series, their mainstream brand VVV as well as coverage from The Great Escape and Bestival.

• Radio 1's Hype Chart with Phil Taggart (BBC Radio 1)
• Radio 1's Chillest Show with Phil Taggart (BBC Radio 1)