The Big Fins

01/09/2026

save the date!!

Save the date for Music in the Pines at Tuncurry Golf Course!

The Big Fins will be live and loud with a special outdoor concert just in time for Christmas! Bring the picnic blanket or chair and enjoy this wonderful afternoon of music amongst the pines at the picturesque Tuncurry Golf Course!

01/09/2026

21/08/2026

We’re back! Save the dates 🎷🎺🪊🥁🎸🎹🎤 Note Blackbutt Hotel date and time changed to Sunday 6 September from 2.30pm. Sunday Sesh!! Be there 🎶

15/08/2026

Meet….Edwin Cachia - Bass player with the Big Fins.

Ed was born in Malta and migrated to Australia with his parents in 1955. They settled in the Inner-Sydney suburb of Paddington before moving out to the ‘burbs in 1960 where Ed developed through his teenage years.

Ed’s musical journey started in primary school where he can remember his teacher drawing musical notes on the black board. As a teenager Ed wanted to learn guitar but the lessons and purchase of an instrument were out of the financial reach of my parents. So, a close friend of the family offered to teach him music on the piano accordion. Ed progressed through the various levels for 5 years.
In Ed’s late teenage years, he came to realise that it was not cool to play piano accordion, so he transferred to keyboard and started jamming around with mates from school.
It was at one such jam that the guitarist said we really don’t need a keyboard, we actually need a bass. So, he loaned Ed a bass and that’s where Ed’s love of bass took hold. The rest is history.
Around about this time Ed started attending concerts at the Hordern Pavillion in Sydney. The first hit to his senses was SANTANA – “the fullness of musical sound was amazing and through some of the words that were spoken between songs, I came to realise that music was the thread that kept life together.” The next hit for Ed came at a Jethro Tull concert. It was the ‘Thick As A Brick’ tour. The bass player, Jeffrey Hammond-Hammond, wore a peppermint striped suit and his bass was also painted in that same peppermint stripe. He bounced around the stage throughout the whole set and made Ed understand the joy of playing and the groove one can enter when one is in tune with the music and o fellow musicians – and the influence we have as musicians to so move other musos and the audience.
Ed’s influences on bass were Jack Bruce (CREAM), Stanley Clarke (double bass) and John Entwhistle (The WHO).
Ed’s first bands were 50/50 bands that played rock and cabaret, but his desire was to play rock. So, I went for a few auditions and landed a spot with a band that was doing some interesting covers and some originals. We ended up supporting many of Australia’s top bands through the late 70s and early 80s at the venues around Sydney - and even touring with the NZ Band Mother Goose on their Western Australian tour. Our roster had the band playing 6 nights a week and sometimes twice on Sunday.
As Ed’s children were reaching primary school, he decided to take a break from gigging. That lasted about 10 years until Ed’s son decided that he wanted to revisit the inspiration he gained form the drummer of Mother Goose and asked Ed to get him a drum kit and lessons. About the same time Ed’s daughter decided, after some promoting from ED, to take up piano lessons. The family had then moved to SE Queensland and found themselves amidst a small music community where there was opportunity to play together as a family and with other musos.
On Ed’s return to Sydney in the mid 1990’s, he was invited to join a band that led to another invitation to complete an originals band line-up. This band went on to record and win awards at the Australian Song Writers Association.
Following that, Ed formed a show band to take advantage of the emerging demand for show/tribute bands. They put together a MOTWON Show, GIRLS LIGHT UP Show (Tribute to Aussie rock legends) and a Cher and Tina Show. These shows were well received at various venues around Sydney and in regional areas.
After retiring from corporate life, Ed relocated to Forster and slowly got involved in the local music scene, first in a blues band and then forming a strong covers band which is now enjoying a good following around the Mid North Coast.
Ed also received an invitation to assist the ‘Big Fins’ in late 2025 to cover for the regular bass player. Ed is still with them and enjoying every minute of it. “The members of the Fins are awesome and great to be with on and off stage.”
In addition to the joys of playing with the FINS, Ed has had the opportunity to share the joys of music through local shows such as The Tom Jones Show, ‘The Blues Brothers Show’ and The Concert for Georg plus various festivals like the Lakeside Festival, Wingham Music Festival, Longview Farm Party and the Winter Solstice Blues Festival.
More broadly. E d has found time in retirement to share the joys of music with school children. He’s been teaching music at Wingham Brush Primary School and Chatham Public School.
Sharing music more broadly has also occurred with Ed’s involvement with the Great Lakes Band, a community band. “I have also been privileged enough to realise my long-term dream to play double bass, as I was invited to play double bass for the Mid North Coast Sinfonia.”

08/08/2026

Meet….Paul Cook the Drummer

Paul was born in Canada into a musical driven Family. Paul’s father played trombone, trumpet and guitar with some heavyweights in the big band jazz era throughout the UK in the late 50’s and 60’s.
Paul’s first musical performance was at school. A drummer was required for a military style march for school assembly. Paul was volunteered by a girl who said she had seen him play drums (she hadn't lol! she lied). It tuned out just by chance I could do the theme song to Hogans Heros. I used to play the drums on my leg when the show came on everyday
Paul loves anything by Led Zepplin, Deep Purple and Bad Company. As he got older, he became more interested in Australian Bands mainly because he could see them live.
Paul has played in many original bands. His first band that got airplay was The Quiet life, a Sydney Band. They recorded at studio 301 and made it on to 2JJ daily playlist. Paul played Blues Bros Shows, cover bands etc
Paul’s most memorable concerts are, Pink Floyd, Led Zepplin, The Beatles and Phil Collins.
Paul’s first experience in a band, was a cover band that played Slade and Status Quo songs.
Previous bands that Paul has played with include, Blues Bros show, Beatnix and Shame on You. He has also played live gigs with Kevin Borich Express , Stevie Wright and Zac Brown.
Paul filled in as drummer for the Big Fins around 2017 and became a permanent member around 2018. He left around 2020 and did just over 300 gigs with Prime Suspex, a covers band. He then rejoined the Big Fins again in 2023
Paul said highlight gigs to date with Big Fins was definitely Australia Day 2025 and the last NYE concert on the water in Tuncurry 2019 where the crowd was estimated to be around 5000 plus.
Paul’s favourite thing about playing locally is “the close relationships you have with the audiences and the travel time is so short, 4 of my local gigs are 6 minutes from home :-)”
Paul considers The Big Fins members to be a family who love, appreciate and support each other, “playing with these guys feel like home.”
He said a bucket list item for the Fins would probably be a Rural tour of the big clubs, “which we would be awesome at and very well received , people just love a band with a 3-piece horn section.”

31/07/2026

Meet….Greg (Fas) Wilcox - Lead guitarist/vocalist, music lover.

Greg is originally from Curl Curl in Sydney and at different times resided in the western suburbs, inner city and on the Central Coast of New South Wales.
Greg’s interest in music and performing in general was sparked at an early age by his mother who would listen to everything from Patsy Cline’s country to Oscar Peterson’s unbelievable jazz/blues piano and singers like Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole. Greg was encouraged to join the school choir in late primary school and was in those school choirs every year until leaving high school. “Of course at about age 11 the Beatles came to Australia and pretty much changed the music world for us. My father gave me a better guitar than the one I had and so I started to play a lot more.”
Greg was encouraged early on to take part in any school productions and managed to jag the part of “Dodger” in Oliver “the best tunes I thought, and even the Mikado, not so sure about that effort. In any event my mother was right, I enjoyed it and even had a brief acting stint, in a couple of productions with a community drama group.”
Greg attended a number of gigs as a youngster, the first live band being Chain, prior to Matt Taylor being a member “and from memory Phil Manning and the crew did a few Traffic covers.” Greg was hooked on live bands from then on and still is. The most impressive artists he’s seen as far as performance and production goes are Prince and Sade.
“On leaving school I commenced mis-spending my youth and went surfing, ultimately settling in Forster while the music took a temporary back seat.” In the early eighties Greg was introduced to a couple of local guys who had a duo going and thy got together to see how it might work. It was a lot of fun and it had been a while since he’d been able to sing with people who knew what was up. The 3 part harmonies and some interesting material re-ignited Greg’s interest. ‘Little Dramas’ was formed and they did a lot of work on the mid-north coast and ultimately as either a 3 piece or duo, plus a lot of work in Newcastle.
Greg’s musical influences, apart from those early ones, include the Beatles of course and guitarists like Larry Carlton, Elliott Randall and Eric Clapton. “There are probably too may others to mention. My music preferences are generally more about the tunes than the artists. A good song is a good song whoever wrote it.”
Having over the last 40 years played with a number of cover bands including the Lounge Lizards, Chester Drorze and the Lowboys and the Loco Brothers, Greg said playing with the Big Fins continues to inspire him. “The dynamics afforded by the brass section and general level of enthusiasm of the other members, all great people by the way, make it a pleasure to keep learning and exploring what seems to be an endless catalogue of potential material. Let’s go.”

24/07/2026

Meet…Gabby Putland - Saxophonist and back up vocals

Gabby grew up in Taree, overlooking the stunning Manning River, farmlands and mountains. Being the youngest of 4 sisters, the family home was always alive with the sound of music. Gabby’s dad, Wilbur, continually practiced his trombone as he played in numerous local bands, including the Taree RSL Resident Band for many years. “He loved to sing, at church, he could always be heard above the congregation singing the harmony part”.
Gabby and two of her sisters, learnt to play the piano. Her sister Amanda was the stand-out. Amanda studied piano through to her L Mus A (Licentiate in Music, Australia) and was constantly practicing the piano - Beethoven and Mozart were a constant in their home. Gabby’s sisters and their dad spent many hours gathered around the piano (and in the kitchen washing up) singing along to the musical scores of Annie Get Your Gun, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Sound of Music and South Pacific. Oh, “and I can’t forget ABBA!”
Gabby became involved in the band scene in the late 70’s, early 80’s. While living in Sydney. She remembers every Thursday night pawing over the Gig Guide to see what Band was playing where: Cold Chisel, The Divinyls, Hunter & Collectors, Midnight Oil, INXS, Eurogliders, The Cochroaches and The Radiators at venues like The Astra, The Bondi Lifesaver, Selina’s, the Stage Door Tavern and Surry Hills Hotel….. “It was an amazing time. I guess that’s why I enjoy playing Pub Rock with the Fins so much, it brings back the fun memories of that period.”
When Gabby first moved to Sydney, she spent every spare moment promoting a local Taree band (“The Trouble Boys”) to pubs, booking agents and radio stations, trying to help them get a “Break” into the Sydney music scene. The band didn’t get a break but Gabby did, her hobby turned into a job offer with JO’K Entertainment, working with Ross Mitchell, Johhny’s Manager and daughter Vicky. Following that Gabby worked with PolyGram records as PA to the State Manger and Promotions Managers. “It was a dream come true for me, working in the music industry, booking and promoting bands in Sydney.”
My most memorable live concerts back then were David Bowie, Elton John, Dire Straits, ACDC, Michael Jackson and Madonna.
Gabby didn’t pick up the Saxophone until the mid-90’s. Her sons were taught to play brass instruments by her dad, and they were all playing in the Great Lakes Band, which Dad (Wilbur) was directing at the time. It was then that Gabby taught herself how to play the saxophone and joined the band, playing in both the Great Lakes Jazz and Concert Band at countless community events.
“Dad was, without question, my greatest inspiration and I’m so thankful to have been able to share his love of brass music. We played together until he was in his 90’s.” It was during that time that Gabby met Lenny, the Big Fins trumpet player – he used to come along to play with the Great Lakes Band.
Lenny approached Gabby about 12 years ago as The Fins were looking for a sax player. “That was the beginning of my wonderful time with The Big Fins.”
The highlight gigs with the Big Fins for Gabby are the one’s when the band gels, the brass is tight, the mix is good and the crowd goes off. “I love the dancing and seeing people singing along and enjoying themselves. That’s usually when The Fins are at their best!”
“The Big Fins have had line-up changes over the years and every new player brings something new to the Band. Some of the guys have played professionally and some of us haven’t, it doesn’t seem to matter. We just work together and enjoy it when the music comes together. I really appreciate their talent, commitment and friendship and always look forward to Wednesday night rehearsal for some more fun and playing music together.”

17/07/2026

Meet…John Vaughan - Bass player

John was born in Eastlakes in the heart of South Sydney territory and attended a Marist Brother’s School in Randwick where sport and study took precedence over music and the arts.

At home the family had a piano; John’s mum had come from a large poor family but was a great accompanist to family singalongs. John believes she had few formal lessons. Neither John’s brother nor John showed an interest or aptitude in learning an instrument, but they both enjoyed singing although it was in his teens before he saw any big concerts. “One very vivid memory I have, was attending the eighteenth birthday party of a mate, and singing harmonies with the Allen Brothers who were friends of the birthday boy.” John remembers seeing Johnny Ray in concert, but the big impression on him was made when hesaw Bill Haley and the Comets at Sydney Stadium in 1957. After that, John remembers seeing Johnny O’Keeffe at a dive in Coogee, before he made it big, and John loved the harmonies of the Delltones.

The first records John bought were 45s of Rock Around the Clock and Heartbreak Hotel and a 33rpm of Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto which he bought when trying to impress a young woman who worked at the Russian Embassy.

John developed an interest in the guitar co-incidentally when, as a law student, he was then courting a lovely young Conservatorium of Music student named Leigh! He even had some classical guitar lessons and Flamenco, but his basis style was Church Strum. “During my student years and after, folk music and jazz took over our lives and I used to jam with mates at parties. We went to great dingy venues, such as El Rocco in the Cross, (young Judy Baily and many others) and The Troubadour a new wonderful folk and classical guitar venue: handmade pottery mugs, and candles in Chianti bottles (and Marion Henderson!)”

John saw Peter, Paul and Mary at the stadium and were heavily influenced by the folk scene and the protest movement with a young Bob Dylan, Kingston Trio, Joan Baez and others. In the following years John saw more classical music and opera productions than pop music and was blessed to sing in choral groups.

It was not until John’s late 30s, while running his own law practice, and helping raise three beautiful daughters, that he had an opportunity to join a band introduced by my mate Wal Campbell who played sax and clarinet and invited john, “with my 4 chords” to play every Thursday evening with his talented son, Bryce, young Adam Ponting, Bob Symington and Harley Longbottom, all of whom were experienced. Their first gig was a small Rotary gig “a disaster for me” but he loved the idea of playing in a band.

Shortly afterwards Paul Brennan and Rex Mooney, both experienced guitar rockers, came to town and joined them. They then had 3 guitarists so Paul kindly suggested John learn the bass. He also had to learn 80s songs. John had a wonderful teacher, Phil Lawson in Taree and within a couple of years they were playing at Clubs and on one occasion supported Galapagos Duck when they were up here.

At the time John was still playing regularly at Church with his dear mate Phil Guiney, who had the finest Irish tenor voice, together with Helen Kearney and Russell Edwards they began a small group and sang a few Aussie songs to mark the Bicentenary in 1988. This group then developed into Wallaby Stew, an Irish Australian bush band and they played together for some 20 years. Over that time, they ran successful bush dances over a wide area.

John also became involved, at the invitation of Father Danny, in teaching guitar to a bunch of unsuspecting kids from church. Some years later, John was invited by Ken, Grant and Len to form a group which became the Big Fins. For this opportunity John is very grateful. He is also glad to have had YouTube to learn most of the 80s music that had bypassed him. “Special mention to Paul Cook for helping to give me the groove. I am still on a learning curve.”

John is grateful for the company of all those mentioned, but the greatest influence on his musical development is his wife Leigh for her encouragement and criticism.