The Pigram Brothers
Encyclopedia
The Pigram Brothers are a 7 piece Indigenous Australian band from the pearling
town of Broome
, Western Australia
formed in 1996.
They were heavily involved in Broome's musical and theatrical exports - forming the original backing band for Jimmy Chi
's Bran Nue Dae
in 1990 – a musical that received international acclaim.
The Pigram Brothers had a large music influence from an early age, and grew up in the rich musical culture of Broome. Alan, Steven and Phillip were members of Scrap Metal from 1983 until its separation in 1995.
In 2000 they were the subject of the one hour documentary, Saltwater Country, part of ABC
s Message Stick series.
In 2006 Steven and Alan were inducted into the Western Australian Music Hall of Fame.
In 2011, Alan and Steven Pigram began touring with Alex Lloyd
as part of the Mad Bastards Trio, performing music from the upcoming Movie Mad Bastards.
, mandolin
, ukulele
, tiple
.
Steven Pigram - Singer, acoustic guitar
, harmonica
, requinto
, vahlia
, ukulele
, dulcimer
.
David Pigram - Singer, acoustic guitar.
Colin Pigram - Singer, acoustic guitar.
Philip Pigram - Singer, drums
.
Peter Pigram - Bass guitar
.
Gavin Pigram - percussion
.
Pearl hunting
Pearl hunting or pearl diving refers to a largely obsolete method of retrieving pearls from pearl oysters, freshwater pearl mussels and, on rare occasions, other nacre-producing molluscs, such as abalone.-History:...
town of Broome
Broome, Western Australia
Broome is a pearling and tourist town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, north of Perth. The year round population is approximately 14,436, growing to more than 45,000 per month during the tourist season...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
formed in 1996.
They were heavily involved in Broome's musical and theatrical exports - forming the original backing band for Jimmy Chi
Jimmy Chi
Jimmy Chi was born in 1948 in Broome, Western Australia, to a Chinese/Japanese/Anglo-Australian father and a Scots/Bardi Aboriginal mother. He is a composer, musician and playwright.- Biography :...
's Bran Nue Dae
Bran Nue Dae
Bran Nue Dae is a 1990 musical set in Broome, Western Australia that tells stories and of issues relating to Indigenous Australians. It was written by Jimmy Chi, his band Kuckles and friends and was the first Aboriginal musical. The musical was originally directed by Andrew Ross, a prominent...
in 1990 – a musical that received international acclaim.
The Pigram Brothers had a large music influence from an early age, and grew up in the rich musical culture of Broome. Alan, Steven and Phillip were members of Scrap Metal from 1983 until its separation in 1995.
In 2000 they were the subject of the one hour documentary, Saltwater Country, part of ABC
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
s Message Stick series.
In 2006 Steven and Alan were inducted into the Western Australian Music Hall of Fame.
In 2011, Alan and Steven Pigram began touring with Alex Lloyd
Alex Lloyd
Alex Lloyd is an Australian singer-songwriter. His most popular album Watching Angels Mend, which includes the songs "Amazing" and "Green", was released in 2001 went double platinum. His third album Distant Light released in 2003 featured three songs that made the Australian top 40 singles charts...
as part of the Mad Bastards Trio, performing music from the upcoming Movie Mad Bastards.
Members
Alan Pigram - Lead guitarLead guitar
Lead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
, ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
, tiple
Tiple
Tiple is the Spanish word for treble or soprano, is often applied to specific instruments, generally to refer to a small chordophone of the guitar family. A tiple player is called a tiplista.-Colombian tiple:...
.
Steven Pigram - Singer, acoustic guitar
Steel-string acoustic guitar
A steel-string acoustic guitar is a modern form of guitar descended from the classical guitar, but strung with steel strings for a brighter, louder sound...
, harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, requinto
Requinto
The term requinto is used in both Spanish and Portuguese to mean a smaller, higher-pitched version of another instrument. Thus, there are requinto guitars, drums, and several wind instruments.-Wind instruments:...
, vahlia
Vahlia
Vahlia is a genus of herbs and subshrubs that grow in Africa and the Indian subcontinent. There are eight species.The genus is placed alone in family Vahliaceae...
, ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....
, dulcimer
Appalachian dulcimer
The Appalachian dulcimer is a fretted string instrument of the zither family, typically with three or four strings. It is native to the Appalachian region of the United States...
.
David Pigram - Singer, acoustic guitar.
Colin Pigram - Singer, acoustic guitar.
Philip Pigram - Singer, drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
.
Peter Pigram - Bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
.
Gavin Pigram - percussion
Percussion instrument
A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
.
Discography
- Saltwater Country (1998)
- Corrugation RoadCorrugation RoadCorrugation Road is an Australian musical set in a mental hospital, about an Aboriginal schizophrenic patient. It was written by Jimmy Chi, his band Kuckles and friends, the creators of Bran Nue Dae. It was produced by Black Swan Theatre and had a successful theatre run after premiering at the 1996...
(Soundtrack) (1999) - Jiir (2001)
- Under The Mango Tree (2006)
- Live at the Pearl Luggers, Broome DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
(2007)
Awards
- 1998 - Deadly AwardThe DeadlysThe Deadlys are an annual celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander achievement in music, sport, entertainment and community. Vibe Australia hosts the awards, which for have been held at the Sydney Opera House since 2001. The first Deadly awards were held in 1995...
- Best Debut Album (Saltwater Country) - 1998 - National Indigenous Music Awards - Best Debut Album (Saltwater Country)
- 2011 - Western Australian Music Industry Association (WAMi) Awards - Best Indigenous Act
- 2012 - ARIA Music AwardsARIA Music Awards of 2006The 20th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards were held on 29 October 2006 at the Acer Arena at the Sydney Olympic Park complex...
- Best World Music Album (Under The Mango Tree) (nominated) - 2006 - Deadly Award - Best Album (Under The Mango Tree) (nominated)
- 2006 - Deadly Award - Best Artist (Saltwater Country) (nominated)
- 2006 - Western Australian Music Industry Association (WAMi) Awards - Best Indigenous Act (nominated)
- 2007 - Western Australian Music Industry Association (WAMi) Awards - Best Indigenous Act