Sound Republic: Music News

The Woodford Files: The Wilson Pickers

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By Richard Wilson
19 December 2008

Related Artists

The Wilson Pickers

Related Festivals

Woodford Folk Festival (2008)

The Wilson Pickers, a curiously named bluegrass quintent comprising of some of the best talent in Australia's roots scene is next in Soulshine's ongoing series, the 'Woodford Files'.

You'd be excused for expecting some sort of Wilson Pickett tribute band dishing out some gritty R&B and soul when hearing the name The Wilson Pickers for the first time. In fact this is about as far from The Wilson Pickers sound as you can possibly get.

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.

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.

Off the back of a successful album launch tour for their debut LP 'Land of the Powerful Owl', The Wilson Pickers head to Woodford Folk Festival for a run of five performances, kicking off with a Saturday December 27 show in the Bazaar at 5pm, they return Sunday 6pm at The Muse, Tuesday 2pm at the Concert stage, 11:20am Wednesday back at the Bazaar and cap things off with some recovery bluegrass for victims of New Year's Eve at 10:30am on Thursday January 1.

Note: times and dates of performances may change and should be used as a guide only. Please check with the Woodford Folk Festival website for the latest: http://www.woodfordfolkfestival.com/

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