Wellington-based folk singer, pianist, and guitarist Matthew Pickering is a lover of words and a scribe of histories. By day, he works in Parliament as a Hansard Editor, checking over the report of the proceedings of the House. His main passion, however, is documenting through song the little happenings in the best little capital and the idiosyncrasies of the people who live there or travel through. Pickering is releasing his third musical EP, Up at the Bunkers - a lovely, considered seven-song collection that speaks of couch-surfers, seaside adventures, gatherings of friends, and other tales.

His music follows a strong folk tradition of storytelling, neatly presented in an acoustic cocoon of banjos, deft fingerpicked guitar, fiddle, accordion and clever piano melodies.
Brendan Schenk on banjo) will perform with Pickering.

Nelson's own Rebecca Schofield, banjo player & guitarist in "State Highway One" winner of The 2012 Gold Guitar Awards, will open the concert

Then, the winners of Smokefree Rockquest "New Vinyl" Ed Palmer, Alex Farrell-Davey & Alistair Meffan will treat us to their winning style.

All up a night of talented musicians playing their original music.