Welcome to the online home of the Pipi Pickers. We play banjo-licious bluegrass music.
The Pipi Pickers are:
- Nathan Torkington: banjo
- Barry Torkington: guitar
- Garry Bigwood: guitar, vocals
- Jenine Torkington: bass, vocals
The Pipi Pickers are a four piece bluegrass band from Leigh, north of Auckland. We live on the edge of the Whangateau harbour, renowned for its abundance of delicious pipi and cockles. When we aren’t on the mudflats with buckets, we are in the living room at 124, slamming out any songs that catch our ear, be they originally bluegrass or disco (or jazz, or blues, or rock, or folk ... ). Garry Bigwood comes from a blues tradition, formerly playing with the Leigh Buoys. Nat picked up the banjo at age 17 from Barry, who was then forced to learn the guitar. Jenine came to music late, learning to play the stand-up bass in 2006 so the guys would let her hang out with them during jam nights.
"The Pipi Pickers play American folk music that eight people in the world enjoy. You can't dance to it (unless pissed), and you can't sing along with it. They smell and they'll steal anything not tied down. A definite must-see." - Anonymous Fan.
Schedule :
Matakana Farmer's Market: 13 January 2010, Wednesday, Matakana Village, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Whangateau Country Fair: 31 January 2010, Sunday, Whangateau Hall, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm.
Whangateau Community BBQ Party: 27 February 2010, Saturday. With Pudding! Whangateau Hall, 5pm onwards. BYO everything, should be a fine fine time. Gold coin donation to cover rental of the hall appreciated.
Leigh Sawmill Cafe 15 May 2010. Book tickets now, before the sell out! (Ha ha ha ha, I kill me)
Need to know what’s on in Auckland and Wellington? Mukuna always knows.
We live in Leigh, New Zealand