South coast NSW band, the Country Pumpkins, has just released a new twelve song original album called Fresh Picked. The band is made up of Graham Scobie on lead vocals, acoustic guitar, mandolin and harmonica, Michelle Scobie on acoustic bass, acoustic guitar and lead vocals, Daniel Ostrosko on drums plus Rick Bamford on lead acoustic and electric guitars, lap steel guitars, dobro and lead vocals.
Rick wrote the title song which is an epic tale of innocence, tragedy and redemption based around Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. That song was released as a single and a video on Friday, 1 Oct 21. Rick has also written another song on the recording called Redbank Creek. Graham wrote seven of the songs and Michelle penned three, including Take All Of My Love which was released as a single and a video in 2020. It deals with the subject of the bushfire that engulfed much of the south coast of NSW in late 2019 and early 2020.
Fresh Picked was recorded by Richard Cooke at Sanctuary Sound Studio at Tilba during May 2021 and, not only did Richard add a number of instruments to the process including piano, banjo, pedal steel and glockenspiel, but he also shot the video for Fresh Picked at several locations around Tilba including the iconic Dromedary Hotel. Richard was ably assisted in video production by Tom Skulander.
Graham, Michelle and Daniel have been playing together for over a decade and recorded a previous album called Pat the Possum with Richard in 2017. Rick was “fresh picked” just in time for this new recording following the departure of long time guitarist, Chris Curtis, who now works in Melbourne. He had been with the band since they played at Gympie Muster in 2009.
Rick has an illustrious music career behind him since his debut in Sydney in 1968. He has either backed or supported many of the top artists in the Australian music industry and is a former winner of the Gympie Muster Talent Search. He recently made a sea change to the Eurobodalla Shire and also performs as a solo artist throughout the south eastern corner of NSW.
Fresh Picked, the album, is available on most digital download platforms, the videos can be viewed on youtube and copies of the CD can be purchased from www.scobie.com.au
VIDEO: Fresh Picked - Country Pumpkins Fresh Picked is the title track of the newly released 'Fresh Picked' album by the Country You can find out when the Country Pumpkins will be performing, post lockdown, at the band’s page at www.facebook.com/countrypumpkinsband or by phoning Graham on 0409 225957 or emailing graham@scobie.com.au
