Who are the Skinner Boyz?
Brothers Nathan and Joel Skinner aka The Skinner Boyz are fast becoming musical sensations in their adopted hometown of Glen Innes, where their musical careers are taking off.
Nathan, who is older, and Joel grew up on the coast, sharing a love of surfing and music. Taught the guitar largely by his father, Nathan’s early musical influences included finger picking from the 30s, old country blues and “just about every song from Mississippi John Hurt”.
Joel was taught the guitar by his father and also Nathan. He used to love listening to Nathan playing his own songs and Delta Blues. Joel still remembers the first song that Nathan ever taught him – Neil Young’s Heart of Gold.
Nathan’s early performances included a lot of Open Mics and busking with friends. Then he and Joel moved to Jackadgery where they formed a band ‘The Electric Fences’ with their friend Jacob Strum. These were the early covid years, and as they like to recall, the audiences were mainly music loving cows.
When did you arrive in Glen Innes?
Along with most of their family, Nathan and Joel moved to Glen Innes just a few years ago. The brothers had been looking for a change and the coast had become increasingly expensive. They knew Glen Innes from travelling through here and liked what they saw.
Challenges, opportunities and achievements?
When the boys arrived in Glen Innes they started new jobs and did not perform for about a year. Once things began to open up post covid, they started busking in front of Coles ‘for beer money’ and were well received by locals. This support inspired them to get back into playing music. One of their first breaks was to be invited to an Open Mic comp at the Bowling Club which they won. This led to the Club’s manager, Matt Jarrett, inviting them to open for acts that were coming to town. Later the boys were given their own gigs at the Bowlo, which gained them experience and raised their profile.
Their next break was meeting Owen Windred, a local musician, who invited them to the Open Mics at the Chapel Theatre. This changed everything: “the Chapel got us involved with many more musicians and the Arts Council and has been amazing”.
Another venue that contributed to the development of the Boyz was The Great Central Hotel, thanks to the support of Andrew and Danielle Kerr who not only gave them their own gigs, but also let them choose their own music.
Curiously, one of their most memorable opportunities came from Smeaton’s Bakery which asked Nathan to write their advertising jingle for radio, which he and Joel recorded:
Come eat at Smeaton’s
Where the pies are great!
We’ll make you a cup of joy
And you might even see a mate.
We got lots of sweets, you know we can’t be beat!
Come eat at Smeaton’s and give yourself a treat!
Smeaton’s since 1939
How do you entertain your friends when they visit Glen Innes?
“Go get coffee at Smeaton’s, play barefoot bowls at the Bowlo, dinner at The Central and a night at the Chapel Theatre’s Open Mic, and not forgetting Thai at the New England Club.”
Tell us about the Skinner Boyz and the Celtic Festival
The Celtic Festival is the brothers’ favourite weekend of the year because “every pub in town has live music, everyone is happy”. The Skinner Boyz Celtic Festival schedule begins on Thursday night at The Central Hotel, followed by a day of competing in the busking competition on Friday. That evening they headline at the Celtic Festival Friday Night Dinner in the Tearooms at the heritage listed Glen Innes Showground. Over the weekend people can catch them doing sets at the Standing Stones.
What is your favourite thing about living in Glen Innes?
Joel loves the “old fashioned country life. People are really friendly – it is how places should be. Glen Innes has been good for work opportunities, and being around friendly people is really good for your mental health”. Nathan added “I love the people in Glen Innes. We’ve met some great role models and friends. The opportunities available here have helped us grow. I love being a part of this community”.
The Skinner Boyz has certainly grown and has evolved into the Skinner Boyz Band which includes lead guitarist George Marlow, drummers – Will Geach, Scott Macansh or Laurie Newsome – and Brett John Arthur on bass guitar. Nathan and Joel say that the new band members are like brothers.
The band is in demand not only in Glen Innes but in Deepwater, where they have performed at the Top Pub, and at the Emmaville Club Hotel. The Boyz love meeting new audiences and performing a wide range of music, across different genres. To do this well, they like to recall the sage words of advice from their lawn bowling coach Paul Jopson who told them to always “Read the crowd”. Or as Joel put it “know when to rock and when to roll”.
A final word from Nathan: “We want to thank everyone who comes to our shows and supports our gigs, we love them all and are very grateful to them.”
