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, Ale House Rock! 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. 

​

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, even a jingle featured on legendary Brishish Comedian Frank Skinner's podcast.  I have opened shows for Jimmy Buffett and The Topp Twins, Headlined NY Eve in Cathedral Square, performed at Major Festivals around NZ and played on RNZ Friday live with Jesse Mulligan and had a top ten album. 

In recent times, I have been reviewing major gigs for The Press newspaper and I present Theraputic music for intellectually disabled adults

​

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

​