Band Bio
The Skerricks are Tallarook’s fourth most popular cover band of brothers.
Available to play at parties, pubs, festivals and puppet shows.
For those who came in late…
Over 400 hundred years ago. Washed ashore on a remote Goulburn river beach. Four brothers swore an oath on the broken guitar of their father. They were the first Skerricks. Their descendants carried on but punters and Tallarook jungle folk believed they were the same band. Nemesis of mediocre cover bands everywhere. They are the Skerricks.
About
The Skerricks are Tallarook’s fourth most popular cover band of brothers. The band's four piece lineup features guitars, drums and bass, with band members based in and around Tallarook. The band play popular covers from artists like Paul Kelly, David Bowie, The Church, Hoodoo Gurus, Midnight Oil, The Beatles & The Rolling Stones to name a few and have a repertoire of around 90 tunes on our Song List . Jump on The Skerricks’ YouTube channel for a little sample of our sound.
Since forming in 2019, The Skerricks have played at a range of venues including pubs, private parties, festivals, wineries, weddings, community events and markets. Festivals to date include: Bud Burst Festival (Lancefield), Tooby Booby Festival (Tooborac), Go Fish Tournament (Nagambie), Roaming Rhythms Festival (Avenel), Yea Winter Festival (Yea), Baala Creek Festival (Numurkah) & The River Beaches Festival (Cobram).
Looking for a short bio and photos to promote the band? Check out our Media Kit.
Band Members
Merrick Skerrick: vocals & acoustic rhythm guitar
Eric Skerrick: vocals & acoustic lead guitar
Ferric Skerrick: drums
Derek Skerrick: bass
Guest Members
Occasionally the band include guest members in the line up:
Blind Cleric Skerrick: blues harp
Hendrik Skerrick: electric lead guitar
Esoteric Skerrick: violin
Cynthetic Skerrick: female vocals
A defining moment...
Skerrick: [Australian Slang] A very small amount or portion, particularly used in the negative. An immeasurably small quantity. A small fragment. The smallest bit. A minute amount. A small crumb. Almost nothing. To have not a skerrick is to be broke. 1931 Lasseter's Last Ride: “Half a gonna's tail, the long thin end with not a skerrick of meat on it.”
History of the Skerrick Family
Merrick, Eric, Derek and Ferric are the sons of local Tallarook legend Berwick Skerrick. Berwick was born in Tallarook in 1937 and lived as an illusive hermit who made himself a subterranean home in the ranges, living virtually undetected for a decade. Berwick was eventually found in a cave playing banjo and making illegal whisky. He had been spotted many times over the years by local residents and, because of his unkempt look and scruffy beard, locals knew him as ”‘The Undomesticated Man of Tallarook’. His reputation grew. Eventually he was caught by police.
While living in the caves Berwick wrote the song “Things is Unwell in Tallarook” only to have the song later stolen by Jack O’Hagan who changed it to the now famous song “ Things is Crook in Tallarook”.
Berwick eventually came to his senses and was released from jail . He decided to leave his mountain life and marry the local barmaid, Scarlett (depicted in the Skerricks logo), who was also the daughter of the Tallarook Hotel Publican. At this time he also formed a folk band with his three brothers.
