slim-pickings.co.uk
07768 202502
SLIM PICKINGS
5 Piece Cover Band
Slim Pickings are one of the premier covers bands in the south of England.
Too many bands play what they want to play. We play what you want to hear!
Our brand of high energy Rock, Soul, Funk and Pop covers will have you singing and dancing from the start. You can't beat variety.
We ensure that you will never be more than a song or two away from one you know and love. How many bands play Maroon 5 then Tina Turner? Or Bon Jovi then Stevie Wonder?
We want you to have a good time and to do that, we keep the set fresh, upbeat, danceable and full of huge sing-alongs. 'Our Music' will tell you everything.
​Slim Pickings is a five piece band, with a very talented and flexible line up who can deliver many different styles.
We play pubs, clubs, private parties, functions, weddings and we have the full range of equipment needed for the variety of venues.
We have our own high quality front of house, monitors, backline and lights.
EVENTS
BAND MEMBERS
Made up of exceptional musicians coming from a variety of different backgrounds, the members of Slim Pickings share a mutual passion and love for the creation of music. The band works together day and night preparing for performances in order to make sure their recordings and live performances are in full harmony. Check out the faces that make up Slim Pickings below.
Lisa Gizzi
Lisa has been singing forever, but usually at a karaoke! Lisa spent over 20 years hosting karaoke nights. You may have also seen her jumping around as an entertainer at a Musical Mayhem party. Lisa has now turned her hand to singing lead vocals, as she started out all those years ago with her first band, the Exploding Sheds!
Steve Hollingsworth
Steve has been playing bass for 23 years and has been playing in bands almost as long. Steve formed Slim Pickings back in 2004, with then drummer Dave Bateman. He has also colaborted with Dave May in Double JD. Prior to those bands, he spent nearly a decade with Alphabet Rug
David May
Our lead guitar virtuoso. Generally quite quiet on stage, Dave is a very talented and incredibly versatile guitarist who tear his way through a Clapton solo, then funk it up like Steve Cropper the song after. He is always on the money, playing the tasteful, melodic leads that suit the song.
Jon De Souza
John is the magic ingredient, bringing Slim songs to life with his immense talent and versatility on the keyboard. Whether he is playing the funky synth in Superstition, the horn section on I Feel Good or the piano on Rolling in the deep, John can turn his hand to any part
Dave McGrath
An excellent and highly experienced drummer, Dave can lay down some amazing grooves that keep us all rock solid. Whether we are playing funk, soul or straight ahead rock, whatever the style, he has the groove to keep the rest of us on beat.
GEAR
Front of house
Slim Pickings have a fantastically versatile and high tech Behringer X AIR XR16 PA desk controlled by an iPad, running our 2 x 408W JBL EON speakers to make sure the vocals are clear and high in the mix. We use a thumping sub woofer to add the bottom end to our sound
We run an iPAD with DJay2 through the PA where needed to provide a DJ service when we are not playing.
Monitors
Peavey and Samson powered wedges along with Shure In Ear monitors mean that our vocalists know exactly what they are singing. So no excuses for a bum note!
Mics
We use Shure, AKG and Samson mics, and wireless AKG & Sennheiser mics
Drums
Dave uses DW PDP Concept Maple drums, Mapex Black Panther Ltd Edition Maple snare, Sabian AAX/HHX cymbals and a Roland SPD-S Sampler
Keys
John plays a Korg Kronos keyboard and uses Electrovoice Speakers
Backline and Guitars
Steve uses a Gallien Krueger bass Rig, comprising of 2 x12" Neo-cabs with a 500w Carvin bass head. He uses an MTD USA 535 Custom 5 string Bass
Dave uses a variety of Peavey Wolfgang Guitars, three in total, through an all valve Marshall amp. Supposedly 'only' 100w - but an all valve Marshall never sounds less than its rating!
Lights
We bring our own lights - LED spotlights to light the band and scanners, lasers and smoke machines for the dance floor. It adds to the look and creates the perfect party atmosphere.
The Slim Pickings setup, on any night, will easily have cost £15,000 - we invest in the best. And we know how to use it - so you get the optimum sound whatever the venue.
Testimonials
Hi Steve, I just wanted to say thank you from Matt and I to you and the band for Friday night. You all made our day complete and it was absolutely incredible, everyone had a blinding evening. Everyone commented on how fantastic the band were, and it was great how you involved the kids, me and the bridesmaids, and the finale at the end with Matt, his best man and his Dad - it made his night and hasn't talked of much else since! A BIG thank you to you and the band we hope to see you guys play again very soon.
Kindest regards, Mr & Mrs O'Brien
Wedding Couple Caversham
Dear Steve, Just wanted to say thank you so much to you and your band for helping me celebrate my 40 th last night. I have had so many people text me today to say how much they enjoyed the music. Please pass on my thanks to the rest of the band. I have some great photos of the band and video footage of the Cult / sanctuary which I will forward in due course.
Thanks again, Paula F
40th Birthday, Sonning
Slim Pickings are by far one of the tightest bands we've had the pleasure of hearing at The Walnut Tree. Their range of songs, entertainment value and ability to adjust their set to the audience makes them a must see and a must book band.
Kate and Gary Landlady/Landlord
The Walnut Tree
Hi Steve, Just wanted to say a huge thank you for last weekend, I have been talking to people who were there all week and they have all said how fabulous you and the band were. Paul* apparently felt very nervous after the rehearsal because of how brilliant you were. I have recommending you to everyone. As Mark D. said - it was a hell of a party!
Thanks again Val (Social Secratary)
*Note - Wherever possible, we like to make things interactive. So when we found out that two managers at the club had previously been in bands, we invited them to join us on stage. It makes the evening more 'personal' - Slim
AFC Charvil Football club's family fun night for 200+ guests
Hi Steve, Thanks so much to you and the rest of the band, we had a wonderful day and the music was fantastic. Everyone definitely seemed to be enjoying themselves and we have had lots of compliments from people. Hope to hear you playing again in the future, quite a few of our friends are engaged and looking to get married next year.
Thanks again Lorna
Wedding - Church House, Stanmore