Nick Churkin
Drums/Percussion/Vocals
BIO NICHOLAS CHURKIN------Nick has seen a lifetime, (well over 40yrs) touring, recording & fronting his own bands covering a broad spectrum of genres, most notably----
Early 70’s group Gunga Din—
A prolific country rock/r&b based band-in fact ‘House Band’ working Sydney’s infamous Chequers/Whiskey A Go Go etc 6-7 nights/wk-a very busy band with appearances on ABC’s ‘GTK’ not to mention endless campus gigs & touring!
From ’73 on & off through to mid 80’s he found himself working the cruise ships (P&O/Chinese & Greek lines) in guest cabaret/country & jazz modes---when shore leave permitted he found time to augment his credentials with numerous private tutors & jazz courses .
Also around ’75 had the opportunity to tour briefly with the legendary JOK & the Stuart Park Showband on his ’Good Ol Days of Rock & Roll’ shows featuring some of JOK’s TV cronies ( Jade Hurley/Lonnie Lee/Johnny Devlin/Dina Lee/Tony Worsley/Laurel Lee etc)
Around the early 80’s nick helped ‘Lonesome Harvey Fisk’ ( of ‘4 day Riders’ Blues Band )etc fame, pull together an unusual outfit ‘The Expander Band’-exploring more eclectic & diverse styles including Afro-cuban,Latin etc-still somehow finding time to tour with Reg Lindsay’s Country & Western Show.
Also was involved in starting ‘The Southern Hemisphere Big band ‘ playing traditional Basie /Ellington styles etc etc.
Around ’84 joined ‘The Layabouts’—
A wild & woolley Louis Jordan style jump blues band with Dave Wray (aka Frank Bennet fronting)
-recording 1x album ‘Stranded in the
Jungle’ . The band developed a cult following on campuses & inner city venues
After a couple of riotous years he got back to freelancing, working with the likes of Shane Pacey’s ‘Billy the Fish’ , Foreday Riders’ /’Don Hopkins’/Mick Diggles band & various outfits including a couple of years with cabaret band –‘The Enormous Horns’ –(Sydney’s number 1 functions group (12 piece) at that time)-copious touring including a tour with none other than guest star ‘Marcia Hines’. TV appearances, performing for visiting Sheiks/The Millionaires Club/Trent Nathan etc par for the course.
However, an opportunity to get back to his roots came when Lonesome Harvey invited him to team up with 2 members from the Cyril b Bunter Band.The ‘King Bees’ were born-touring extensively playing most major festivals & venues especially Byron Bay Bluesfest.They recorded 1x cd ‘Gotta Move’.
After ‘Lonesome’ bowed out & numerous front man changes
They teamed up with American expat ‘James Thornbury’ of ‘Canned Heat’ fame ( ‘James T & the Last Volunteers’) recording 2 cd’s- ‘First Up’ & ‘Sharpen Up’.
Once again accruing numerous major festival appearances with extensive Australasian touring.
Upon James’ departure in 2001 The Last volunteers continued on bringing back Lonesome Harv.
Around 2005/6 Nick decided to re-visit Vocal/Drumming duties together with Gary Lothian-forming the Swamphouse Project –a very roots/country blues based duo
Recording critically acclaimed cd
‘Swamp & Circumstance’.This eventually evolved into trio format with Mike Rix & Jimmy Bee filling the bass chair’
Releasing 3 more cd’s
‘This Boogie Life’
‘Swamphouse EP’
‘Swamphouse Live On The Coast’
Once again gaining notoriety at most major festivals & venues including
Broadbeach
Sydney Blues Festival (Twice)
Darling Harbour Jazz & Blues Fest(Twice)
Australian Blues Festival Goulburn
Thredbo Blues Festival (Twice)
Great Southern blues & Rockabilly Festival (Twice) etc etc .
This outfit still performs when all other commitments allow.
And Now 2016, together with The El-Dorados ( Peter Oneil basses/Jez Durant guitars)a new & exciting chapter looks set to take off.
Contact 0427045602