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.
Upcoming Shows:
12 September 2010. Devonport Folk Club at the Bunker! 8:00 pm show. Most romantic venue ever, bring a picnic dinner and enjoy the view from the top of the mountain beforehand!
19 September 2010. Thirsty Dog Folk Club, 469 Karangahape Road in Auckland. Our Thirsty Dog Debut. Don't miss it! 3:00 pm, $5 entry.
22-25 October 2010. Wellington Folk Festival. Not on the bill this year, but we are really looking forward to seeing Coolgrass there! And we plan on spamming the open mic/blackboard concerts wherever possible. Hopefully we'll be back in our "regular" cabin, look for the fairy lights and come jam with us.
29 October 2010. Wellington Bluegrass Society!
6 November 2010. Leigh Sawmill with Coolgrass. This may change, check back here later in the year.
19-21 November 2010. Harrietville Bluegrass Festival. YEEEE-HAAAAWWWWW. We ARE on the bill for this one, and if we were any more excited about it we would POP.
13 November 2010. Lawless in Leigh. Come to the Leigh Hall for an old-fashioned "Dinner and a Show." Great roast dinner to be had, cash bar, and onstage music, comedy, and real dance hall dancing girls! Cowboy dress MANDATORY. Check back for more details and information on how to buy tickets.
Need to know what’s on in Auckland and Wellington? Mukuna always knows.
We live in Leigh, New Zealand