Sime Nugent (Harp, Vox, Singlets)
Danny Widdicombe (Guitar, Vox, Sniggers)
Ben Salter (Banjo, Vox, Bulbs)
John Bedggood (Fiddle, Mandolin, Vox, Texting)
Andrew Morris (Guitar, Vox, Beards)
Influences
Flatt and Scruggs, Steve Earle, Dolly Parton, kookaburras, Paul Kelly, Warumpi Band, Neil Young, Yoko Ono, port, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Townes Van Zandt, bulbs, Willy Nelson, Old Crow Medicine Show, tequila, Mike Hussey, The Byrds, Gillian Welch & David Rawlings, The Drones, carpentry
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CHAPTER ONE
The Wilson Pickers formed after a crazy idea of uniting some Queenslanders with some Victorians in the vague hope of forming a bluegrass-style band. After numerous emails showing keeness to form, but not actually doing anything about it, it was suggested that booking a gig in balmy Brisbane would force the band to get together, or face public humiliation. So flights were booked, a gig was scheduled, and a studio was stealthily acquired. The band all met for the first time on the Sunday, recorded on Monday, and gigged on Tuesday. The studio session spawned 13 live recordings, and went from 1pm to 5am. Backing up for the gig was an effort, but The Wilson Pickers were up to the task and pulled off a dignified first gig to a welcoming crowd at Brisbane's The Troubadour. Much fun was had by all with an instant bond formed between the interstate rivals. Such was the success of the first gathering, The Wilson Pickers are now to embark on a return leg of recording/gigging in Melbourne in March. By then their debut album should be in the can.
The Wilson Pickers feature 5 great and individual singers/songwriters, who all embrace the spiritual feeling one gets when singing in harmony. The band creates an earthy energy by using purely organic stringed and reeded instruments. After gathering an initial repertoire of cover songs from artists such as Townes Van Zandt, Flatt and Scruggs, Steve Earle, Dolly Parton, Paul Kelly and Bob Dylan, The Wilson Pickers have bravely undertaken the task of writing their own material with much success. The Australian-born lads dare not take on bluegrass traditionalists of old but instead are aiming to craft their own individual style based on the bluegrass configuration of intruments and ideas.
The Wilson Pickers are Sime Nugent (harp/vox), Danny Widdicombe (guitar/vox), Ben Salter (banjo/vox), John Bedggood (fiddle/mandolin/vox) and Andrew Morris (guitar/vox).
STAY TUNED FOR CHAPTER TWO...
CHAPTER TWO
Well, it was AGAINST ALL ODDS that The Wilson Pickers have finally completed recording their debut album, with none less than 11 orginal compositions! Again Brisbane was chosen for the location of the recording, in an ailing shack in the Samford Valley. There were two days set aside the record the album live in. Day one arrived and dark horse Salty Dog was nowhere to be seen, apparently skulking around Melbourne town (where The Nuge and Bedggemeister had just flown in from). Nethertheless, the remaining four members ploughed on and wrote and recorded 5 new tunes, from the pens of all the writers, leaving gaps for the banjo twangs and hoaresy backing vocals of the Salty Dog. Day two arrives and a plague has hit town in line with the Ekka - Vinderbloom is a casualty, stricken at home with a fever. However, Salty Dog has returned as the prodigal son and a different 4 Pickers hit the studio to lay down some more tracks and this time leave space for Vinderbloom. Still determined to get this bugger of a record in the can, Captain Moz hastily organises a 3rd day in the studio, where 'heaven help us' the whole team will be together to get these last songs down. Day 3 arrives with the blessing of the sun, and the Wilson Pickers finally unite in full strength (although Vinderbloom is heavily medicated and only just physically there). The tape rolls and The Wilson Pickers hit their strides, belting out the rest of the album in mere hours. It's a wrap.
Land of The Powerful Owl is OUT NOW on ABC/Universal
REVIEWS
“One couldn’t help feeling the urge to take your partner by the hand and do some kind of a thigh-slappin’, hip-swingin’ country-inspired boot-scooting dance. Yessir, those tales of love lost and dusty country roads could be mighty intoxicating.” Susan Munro, Fasterlouder.
“Land Of The Powerful Owl is a superb debut, full of the rich soul that each of these musicians bring to every performance. It’s a great Sunday afternoon album for sitting out on the deck and knocking back a few beers with friends. It’s the kind of album you’d only expect to work from an artist from the depths of Nashville, and it’s great to see the Australian alt-country bluegrass flag being flown so freely,” Gumboy, Fasterlouder.
“likeable 'boozegrass' combo The Wilson Pickers treated us to the sort of impeccable vocal harmonies and and authentic camaraderie that most bands would kill for. After witnessing their mind-blowing performance on Friday night [at Port Fairy Folk Festival] I returned to see them on three further occasions during the weekend and they were consistently impressive” Beat (of Port Fairy show)
" 'Land of the Powerful Owl' deserves to be sought out and kept somewhere special, to be played on the lazy, sun-beaten Sunday afternoons of the upcoming summer" Time Off, 4 stars
"It's the kind of music where you can imagine the players sitting around a table on the back porch swapping lines, and when it's time for the solo, well, you better move in a little closer to the microphone." Noel Mengel, The Courier Mail
DJ support so far from State Of Mind, Chris Renegade, Optiv, Masheen, Axiom and more. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- available on CHEMICAL RECORDS REDEYE RECORDS JUNO RECORDS MIRAGE 2000 RECORDS and in all the best vinyl stores
Oh and I am not sure if you guys are headed to Tamworth, but I nominated yas for A Golden Fiddle Award, in several Categories, after listening to ya recordings (google it for more info). If ya go, contact Andrew Clermont (fiddle extordinaire who organises the Supper Club, an alternative country folk hub in Tamworth). Pretty sure heed love to have yas play. You fellas would fit right in with the tea n scones, or maybe the with rum, beer and tequilla shots??
Was at ya show @ the Troub last night (Brisvegas). Was celebrating me 35th. Not often I get to go out, havin a life of filled with 'haftoos' So, happy birfdee to me, the stars and planets alligned, cos I love me bluegrass, fiddle, banjo, madolin, etc... and I am a bit of a Sime Nugent fan. So there, front and centre, soaking in the unified inspiration and creativity. AWESOME. Will keep me going till next time. Hats off to yas
