We also welcome back our bluegrass cousins from across the ditch: The Pipi Pickers.
The Pipis play a blend of contemporary and traditional hard driving bluegrass with solid instrumental chops and an engaging performance style that puts a smile on everyone’s face and infuses even the most dreadful of murder ballads with a sense of joy and energy. The Pipis bring a love of the genre and a desire to share that love with as many people as possible. Nat Torkington is New Zealand’s best 5-string Scruggs-style banjo player, and is ably supported by his father Barry on guitar, Garry Bigwood on mandolin, and wife Jenine Abarbanel on double bass and vocals.