Jinder (Phil Dewhurst) / Pete Millson
A Million Points of Light Album Launch
With the chance to see one of the area’s best singer-songwriters within the acoustically rich walls of a Bournemouth church, I was always going to be there. The fact that the artist was playing his new album in full for the first and only time made the evening even more special.
On Christmas Day 2025, Phil Dewhurst, better known as Jinder, saw his life thrown into turmoil when his marriage came to an end. Not only was the timing far from ideal, but parting with someone you expected to spend the rest of your life with is a devastating experience. Just over six months later, Phil is coming to terms with what the future looks like and is moving forward with positivity. The pain and heartbreak were channelled into a new album, one that clearly aided both recovery and renewal.
The ten-track record, titled A Million Points of Light (or, as it has affectionately been nicknamed, A Million Pints of Lilt), was recorded alongside Phil’s long-time musical partner, Pete Millson, who has yet to let him down.
Seated in front of the altar, with a sizeable congregation gathered to witness this special occasion, Jinder and Pete opened with Devastation Day. The lyrics return to Christmas Day and the events that led to the breakup. Phil lays bare his innermost thoughts and feelings, while the acoustic and electric guitars complement each other beautifully. His voice remains pure and expressive, perfectly conveying the melancholy of the situation.
The album weaves in and out of these deeply personal experiences and their aftermath. It cannot be easy to relive them all, and perhaps that is why this full album performance is a one-off. Yet throughout these songs there is a resilience and optimism, with tracks such as New Life and Standing on the Edge of My Life demonstrating an ability to see light beyond the darkness.
Among this collection are several standout songs, including the recent single Decades and the wonderfully infectious King of Burden, which is currently my favourite (although that may well change). Jinder and Pete have no trouble translating the recorded material to the live stage. As the final song of the collection, Martha of the Morning, brought the first half to a close, I felt privileged to be part of such a special occasion and found myself appreciating Jinder as an artist more than ever.
After a short interval filled with conversation—and amusement at the church staff selling “alcohol-free red wine” that turned out to be Ribena—my friends and I returned to our seats for the second half.
Phil reappeared looking noticeably more relaxed, opening with Between Vermillion and Mitchell from the 2023 album Codetta. One of Jinder’s finest earlier compositions, The Train to the Sky, received a fresh makeover through the use of a loop pedal. Enhanced by dual-guitar melodies and tapped percussion, it became one of the evening’s highlights.
Pete Millson was then encouraged to perform one of his own songs, Red Café. Caught slightly off guard and without preparation, he managed around half of the song before admitting defeat, claiming he had forgotten the words.
As the evening drew to a close, the duo serenaded the congregation with several of their best-known songs. As wonderful as this intimate event was, I couldn’t help thinking that Jinder should be doing this regularly, playing venues up and down the country to packed audiences. He remains one of Dorset’s best-kept musical secrets, and I would love to see him receive the wider recognition that his solo material so
thoroughly deserves.
Set List
Devastation Day
Decades
Rain Now
Standing On The Edge of My Life
I Can’t Make You Love Me
King Of Burden
Never Mind About You
New Life
Old Stars
Martha of The Morning
Between Vermillion and Mitchell
A Simple Song
The Train To The Sky
The Woods Are Full of Wardens
Diving Board
Red Café (Pete Millson)
Waiting For The Wind
Keep Me In Your Heart
Overthinkers Anonymous
Rough Around The Edges (The Mercurymen)
Videos
A Million Points of Light is available now to download on Spotify and there will be a limited Edition vinyl directly from Jinder.
Links
https://jindersongs.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/JinderSongs
Article By David Chinery (Chinners)
