Brenny & the Bushwhackers have maroon blood pulsing in their veins. Their Southland-centric sound is a fusion of bluegrass, a bit of country, and a whack of the Irish, with an underlying rural punk flavour.

They bring their songs about southern battlers to life with their distinct sound.

Through years of fascination and interest in not only southern but New Zealand history, Brendon Fairbairn and his band have crafted an album of anecdotal masterpieces.

Recorded at SIT Sound’s state-of-the-art studio in Invercargill with the legendary Charlie “Chainsaw” Rodgers on the mixing desk, the album takes you on a journey from the whale-killing fields of the 19th century south coast all the way through to Invercargill's Dee Street in the back seat of a Ford Falcon, with a stop at the duck pond along the way.

To celebrate this body of original Southland-centric music, the Whackers are embarking on a southern tour in May/June.

The album, titled Land of the Rolling R, launches officially at the Riversdale Community Centre on Friday 9 May but, as a topical taster, the band released three singles in April.

The first single, Ringers, dropped on Friday 11 April. It’s a celebration of the noble art of sheep shearing.

Then, on Good Friday, 18 April, the band dropped Chunuk Bair, Brenny’s aching salute to the brutal sacrifice of the Anzacs’ campaign in Gallipoli.

The following Friday, 25 April, the hard-rocking Duckshooting Day droppred just in time to be played loudly in maimai throughout the south during the annual duck harvest.

Stream Brenny & The Bushwhackers’ releases on Spotify and all major platforms and see the band’s video content on YouTube.

THE BAND

• Lead vocals/harmonica/bagpipes - Brendon Fairbairn (Run The Cutter, Hokonui Celtic Pipeband)
• Electric guitar/vocals - Liam Fairbairn (The Dense)
• Acoustic guitar/vocals - Lachie Hayes (Lachie Hayes & The Tokanui Chainsaw Massacre, The Possum Pickers)
• Bass/vocals - Chris Chilton (Triple Shot, Justin Funk Monkey, Pretty Wicked Head)
• Drums - Antonio Mercuri (The River Jesters, Bad Horsie)

TOUR DATES

• Friday 9 May: Riversdale Community Centre official album release for Land of the Rolling R
• Saturday 17 May: Redcliff Restaurant, Te Anau
• Saturday 24 May: Bluff Seafood and Oyster Festival
• Sunday 25 May: Hokonui Celtic Pipe Band concert, St James Theatre, Gore
• Saturday 7 June: Tuatara/Gadoochi, Invercargill
• Sunday 8 June: The Little Theatre, Gore