About Me & Backyard Music

Hi I'm David Thorpe, Aka Li'l Chuck The One Man Skiffle Machine, Davey Backyard, The Skeatles, The Harmonica Guy, The Old Fashioned Singalong, etc... yep, it gets a bit complicated but essentially, I am one guy, with a ton of different music and creative projects and a brain like a firework display. 

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Based in Christchurch New Zealand since 2003, I started Backyard Music in the UK 1998. Backyard music is an ethos, I like to keep things in the 'backyard' by keeping it local, keeping the focus on community & drawing on the local talent around me. New Zealand made. 

 

This philosophy has allowed me to be a self employed, full time musician, tutor and writer ever since. I am a multi instrumentalist & I have a portfolio that I am very proud of. To give you an Idea, I have done thousands of gigs in all sorts of places from England to New Zealand, South Korea and Australia. I was in Ian Costellos legendary Black Velvet Band for 11 years I have been the band leader for The Crusaders rugby team & I have recorded harmonica for Dancing With The Stars. I have taught harmonica workshops for corporate team building events and written family entertainment for The World Buskers festival and a song for The NZ Red Cross. I have opened shows for Jimmy Buffett and The Topp Twins, played on RNZ Friday live with Jesse Mulligan and had a top ten album. 

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I really enjoy projects that lean in a quirky direction. I pride myself on my professionalism and being low maintenance to work with and have a great team of creatives around me to call on.

So, if you are looking for some ideas, please do drop me a line from my Contact page. If I can't help you, I'll know someone who can. 

Cheers, David

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