Johnny Possum Band

May 20th, 7.30pm
Members $15, non-members $20

Since 2005, The Johnny Possum Band has been delivering their own brand of alt country/bluegrass/folk music featuring guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo and upright bass. From performances throughout New Zealand, to appearances at festivals and venues in the USA, the band has developed a solid fan base.

Taking the role of mandolin player and one half of lead vocals, Bryan Peters, lays a solid vocal and instrumental foundation for the band. Keith Taylor on guitar lays down the driving rhythms so typical of this particular style of American roots music; and sharing the lead vocals he also adds a voice full of character and completes the harmony work. Margaret Pickering, on fiddle and vocals demonstrates and shows off her incredibly rich and diverse musical background. On 5 string banjo, Sean Whitaker, adds the syncopated styles typical of bluegrass, string band and old time musical styles. Jonathan Rosanowski shows off just one facet of his diverse multi-instrumentalist talents behind a solid upright bass providing the rhythmic bedrock for the band.

The band's debut CD, 'Tickets' released in 2006 featured the band performing mainly traditional bluegrass tunes in their own style and was a finalist for a 2007 New Zealand Music Award for best Country Music Album, and their first original single, 'Bluegrass Saved the Earth' was a finalist for Country Music Single of the year.

This was followed by 'Twister', in 2008, 'Live at the HarbourLight' in 2009, 'High Lights 2005-2009' in 2010 and 'Short Summer', featuring mainly original material in February 2012.

The Johnny Possum Band has played extensively throughout New Zealand and gained international exposure with two mini tours of the USA. The first in 2007 saw them receive the 'Rising Legends' Award from the National Old Time Country and Bluegrass Association. Their 2nd visit in 2008 received rave reviews and a growing fan base as they toured the heartland of this musical style following the Appalachian Mountains and travelling through Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. A return visit is on the cards for 2012. johnnypossum.com/band-bio/