Announcing Li’l Chuck & Davey’s Backyard Skiffle Show North Island Tour + ‘Gumption’ Single Release
Li’l Chuck is heading North for the first time since opening for Jimmy Buffet at The Wellington Opera House back in 2017. He’s excited to play his first ever shows in Lower Hutt, Whanganui and the Taranaki region. He’ll be celebrating 10 years since his acclaimed album release Blues In Full Swing and the recent release of his new single Gumption.
Li’l Chuck will present his full one man band plus a selection of his cranky home made instruments and Diddley bows and offering audiences the amazing opportunity to jam, skiffle and learn about his old time homemade music.
Having spent a lifetime rummaging through the drawers of 1930’s – 50’s music, Chuck’s songs are inspired by the sounds of the era – Blues, Early Jazz, Western Swing, Ragtime etc. and are uniquely presented in the style of street performers from those glory days. Sticking to the traditional one man band format, Chuck plays all the instruments simultaneously.
Captivating storytelling intertwines effortlessly with heart stopping harmonica. Multiple guitar styles are underpinned by his left and right feet frantically pounding the kick and hi hat. The listener is left simply wondering, “How the hell does he do that?”
Joining Li’l Chuck on tour is Davey.
Davey’s Backyard Skiffle workshop and show programme including making and playing instruments made from household objects
It’s time to take a nostalgic journey back to the 1950’s ‘Skiffle boom’ in England when the kids turned everyday household items into great music and went on to make rock history.
This interactive multi media primary school show features lots of quirky old time instruments and a hideous amount of crashing, banging and chaos.
Let’s call it a music & history lesson rolled into one… with a touch of mayhem and a big dollop of good humour. The show teaches kids the history of Skiffle music in 1950’s England and the impact it had on modern rock music.
The show wrangles a group of kids to form a band ‘on the fly’ live on stage. During the show they’ll play the traditional ‘instruments’ of the Skiffle era – most of which they’ll have never seen before. Those ‘instruments’ – (Washboards, Tea chests. And the like) played a huge part in everyday living in post war England, and are cleverly put into context by means of a sneaky history lesson…. Where does tea come from? How was it transported before the creation of the Tea Bag? How did you wash your clothes before the invention of a washing machine?
The Backyard Skiffle Band is a family show was written by David Thorpe for The World Buskers Festival in Christchurch. It’s continued success has meant it has been performed at many events since and has recently been booked for the 2025 Wanaka Festival Of Colour , Dunedin Festival Of The Arts and Reimagine Taranaki Arts Festival.
Li’l Chuck and Davey’s Backyard Skiffle Show North Island Tour
Backyard Skiffle workshops & shows
Te Papa Wellington Fri 3rd Oct
Li’l Chuck show in Lower Hutt
The Shed Fri 3rd Oct
Li’l Chuck show in Whanganui
Whanganui Musicians Club Sat 4th Oct
The Backyard Skiffle Show at schools around Taranaki region Opunake / Hawera/ Waitara / New Plymouth & Inglewood 6-10 Oct
(26 primary schools involved with 4000 children)
Li’l Chuck show Inglewood
Taranaki Arts Festival Fri 10th Oct
Backyard Skiffle family show & workshop
Puke Ariki Landing New Plymouth Sat 11th Oct
Li’l Chuck show New Plymouth
Taranaki Arts Festival Sun 12th Oct
