An all-star interstate musical collaboration, The Wilson Pickers are better known as Queenslanders Danny Widdicombe, Ben Salter, Andrew Morris, and Victorians Sime Nugent and John Bedggood.

The Wilson Pickers formed after a crazy idea of uniting some Queenslanders with some Victorians in the vague hope of inventing a bluegrass-style band. After numerous emails showing keenness 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 and a gig was scheduled.  The band all met for the first time on the Sunday, jammed on Monday and gigged on Tuesday. The jam session went from 1pm to 5am, and 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 and an instant bond was formed between the interstate rivals.

The Wilson Pickers feature five 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. So much success that it was decided they should make a record to establish the existence of the band.  A studio in Brisbane’s Samford valley was acquired, and in three short days the album was in the can featuring 11 original compositions, all recorded live in the same room, one of them (Cold River) already winning a gong in last year’s prestigious Qsong awards.

The Australian-born lads dare not take on bluegrass traditionalists of old but instead are aiming to craft their own unique take on the bluegrass configuration of instruments and ideas.

As individuals, the five members of The Wilson Pickers are known as rising stars in the music industry. As an ensemble they have harnessed the strengths of all members to form a stellar ensemble to look out for.

Product links

The Land Of The Powerful Owl