Author: Jan Preston

In postponing travel this winter I realise some people think I have cancer. No, absolutely not!
But I’m not prepared to leap on and off aeroplanes due to my fragile lungs and the effect on my singing voice which is still not at full strength. All concerts are being rescheduled by my intrepid promoter, Simon Vare (Yellow Eye) for next Feb/Mar when I will be in full voice. I hope to see you then!

Big news also this week is that my sister, filmmaker extraordinaire Dame Gaylene Preston has had screenings of her new feature documentary GRACE about artist Robin White, to overwhelming responses at the NZ International Film Festival. I am honoured to have composed the music for this film, I think this is one of Gaylene’s very best. She says she’s rarely had a reaction like this, standing ovations, tears and joy.
Bravo sister!

Check out a trailer for the film here.

There’s a sold out screening (800 plus) this Sunday 17th August at 2.30pm at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington, and I’m very excited to zoom onto the big screen and join the Question and Answer session.
This is definitely the most unusual filmscore I’ve ever composed. For those who understand, it’s not so much Music as Musicscape, so whilst played by musicians, they are approaching their instruments in a contemporary, improvised and loose way, blowing bowing and banging them in unusual positions.
My heartfelt thanks to musical director James McCarthy, together with outstanding Sydney flautist Christine Draeger. Huge thanks also to Melbourne’s acoustic guitar virtuoso Nick Charles and Neil Hannan from SDL Studios for the fabulous recordings.
‘Grace’ was mixed earlier this year with the team led by Mike Hedges at Peter Jackson’s magnificent Soundstage. This is where all his films (Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, etc) have been mixed and I cannot tell you how exciting it was to hear my music through that system.
I simply couldn’t sit down!
And here’s a pic of me with James and Gaylene, such a precious moment in my musical life.

Mike and I are taking a break during August, postponing our NZ dates in Auckland Aug 8th, Cambridge Aug 9 and Opotiki Aug 10.
So sorry folks but I’ve been plagued by infections this winter and with my singing not up to scratch we’ve made this difficult decision not to travel from home. We’re loving our rehearsals as you can see, and will emerge playing better than ever with some hot new material and special guest players. I’ll keep you posted!

I’m very excited to be performing my show “Wonderful Winnie” at the fabulous Glen St Theatre in French’s Forest next Monday May 5th @ 11am.
In revisiting and rehearsing this show, I am reminded of the great admiration and respect I have for Queen of Honky Tonk, Winifred Atwell, who emigrated to Australia and lived the last 20 years of her life on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

West Indian born, she had huge success in the UK through the 1950’s with million-selling records and sold-out live shows. Her rendition of the Black and White Rag was a hit second time around when it was used as the theme music to the UK snooker program, Pot Black.

I have done extensive research for this show, a multi-media presentation comprising live music and narration together with more than 150 projected images from the 1950s 60s and 70s. Remember Palings, Ansett Airlines and more? The photos from the National Film and Sound Archive show us an Australia which is gone.
Please note it’s wise to book for the Glen St Theatre. Although it’s a 400 seater, it’s getting sold out!

And for those in Sydney’s South, we’ll also be performing “Wonderful Winnie” on Tuesday May 6th @ 1pm for the Sutherland Heritage Festival.
More information is available on sutherlandmusicclub@outlook.com.

Save the date of SAT MARCH 1st for our one upcoming Sydney concert at the oh-so-groovy BUTCHER’S BREW in Marrickville! Having enjoyed some fabulous nights there in the audience, I’m greatly looking forward to finally taking to the stage.
This venue is all vibe, harking back to my days of band residencies in the Inner City in the 1980’s! Bless them for having an upright piano, lovely staff, wonderful restaurants nearby (audience is encouraged to bring in food if they like) and a super intimate club atmosphere.
And it really is intimate, limited numbers, so if you’re keen to come please book asap here.

And there’s more….! The super talented acoustic guitarist and singer/songwriter from Melbourne, NICK CHARLES, is to be my special guest. Out of a field of over 400 guitar players from around the world, Nick has just returned from Memphis where he won Guitarist of the Year at the International Blues Challenge. I’m honestly not surprised, he’s totally brilliant.

In the meantime I’m also full steam ahead completing the music for my sister Gaylene’s latest feature length documentary. I can’t announce too much as it’s still under wraps until it’s release later this year, but it is, as ever, a wonderful film, entitled GRACE. I’m travelling over to Wellington next week to work at Peter Jackson’s State-of-the-Art post production facility PARK ROAD POST. Think of me mixing my music in Dolby in the very cinema where Peter’s films such as Lord of the Rings were mixed. It’s going to sound amazing!

Yes, dear boogie friends, I do realise at this age and stage I could be slowing down work wise. But my life doesn’t seem to be going in that direction yet, and I feel grateful for the opportunities I still have, so I’m grabbing them!

Our first concerts for 2025 kick off at the Illawarra Folk Festival next weekend Fri 17, Sat 18 and Sun 19 with one concert each day as well as a boogie piano workshop on Friday. It’s a fantastic festival, great size without being too big, not only with excellent music but also a variety of stalls and fab food. Check out the program here.
Close for people from the Wollongong and Shoalhaven areas, Bulli is also little over an hour from Sydney, so it makes for a great day trip. Consider it!

Meanwhile back home in my studio I’m composing madly for a film (more about that soon) and my trio, Jan Preston’s Boogie Circus, is performing at a special event on Australia Day. Hosted by THE BEEZ on their private land in the Blue Mountains, people can bring their own food and drink. For all the details, including ticket purchases, click here.
And to wrap up 2024 here’s a pic of me during the curtain call of our last show.
The glint in my eye says it all…..how energising is playing music!

I’m very excited to share that my long awaited new album PIANOLAND is to be released on Oct 1st through independent NZ based record label, YELLOW EYE MUSIC. It’ll be on all digital platforms and available in NZ stores.
Best of all, we’ll be playing an extensive tour of the North Island. Looking at the schedule, Mike and I are thinking it may be easier to cancel all other unrelated activities, such as eating and sleeping….. Truly it’s a punishing schedule, but none the less a wonderful opportunity to play towns and cities we haven’t visited for a while. Made all the more special by the addition from Melbourne of outstanding acoustic guitar player, NICK CHARLES.
And did I mention iconic Radio NZ presenter, JIM MORA is having me on his show? Kiwis can listen in from your gardening, housework or brunch on Sun Oct 6th. Jim’s outstanding reputation is well deserved and it’s always a great pleasure to be interviewed by him.
The (more than 20) dates kick off in Upper Hutt, Fielding, Whanganui, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Paeroa, Hamilton, Tauranga, Howick, Auckland’s Pah Homestead, Whangarei, Warkworth, Waiheke Island, Kapiti and more. Most bookings are through Eventfinda, details are being added to my website as they come to hand, and I will post updates.
And if you think that’s a lot going on….well yes it is.
Just as well I still absolutely love playing live music to audiences that appreciate it, of which I hope you are some!

 

Brian Nankervis (remember Rock Quiz?) has invited us to play live on his ABC Friday Revue Radio Show in Melbourne next Friday Sep 6^th at 3pm. What a buzz that will be! I’m such a huge fan of his! We’re finally making the trip down south to Victoria, starting this Saturday night in Paynesville, Sunday arvo at the Drunken Poet Melbourne, Tuesday night as special guests of the MBAS (Melbourne Blues Appreciation Society), Wed night at Beneath Driver Lane Melbourne and ending with WOW Roots Music Club, featuring yours truly along with prominent Australian guitarists, Phil Manning and Nick Charles. Improvising with these guys is totally scary for me, they’re both such brilliant players, I’d better keep up! 

Full details are on ” Live Shows” on the website, and you can book for the WOW show here.

 

I’m terribly excited that my new album, PIANOLAND, has gone to be pressed!
I’m very happy with it and am hugely grateful to everyone who played on it, recorded it, produced artwork, took fab new photos, and generally supported me through the long process. I’ve absolutely loved every moment and am now facing an odd void in my life…..what to do with myself?!

Fortunately there are concerts, most particularly the CD launch, JAN PRESTON’S BOOGIE CIRCUS at CHURCH ST STUDIOS in Newtown on SUN APRIL 28^th. If you’ve never been to this venue, you’re in for a treat. www.churchstreetstudios.com.au

It’s an awesome environment of musical artworks and books, both immaculate and quirky, as well as a magnificent Kawai Grand Piano.

Before then, on SUN APRIL 14th @ 3pm I’ll be playing completely acoustic at the lovely HUMPH HALL, 85 Allambie Rd, Allambie  Click here for more Humph Hall information and booking link.

We’re also playing 3 other duo shows in April, down the coast at TATHRA.
FRI APRIL 19th 7pm Private House Concert  Tathra
SAT APRIL 20th 4.00pm TATHRA Hotel
SUN APRIL 21st 4.00pm TATHRA Hotel 8-12 Bega Street, Tathra

Btw let me know what you think of the PIANOLAND cover. I can tell you it wasn’t easy climbing up into that grand piano!

We’re packing our bags and are super excited to be part of the SMALL HALL Concert Series, held in beautiful Heritage Halls in NZ’s Hawkes Bay. These concerts are caringly presented by HB resident Jamie MacPhail, so be prepared for a unique experience of music in an unforgettable environment with delicious food and, of course, famous Hawkes Bay wines.

Have I sold it you? Sounds like heaven to Mike and I!

And for those in the Wellington area we’ll be playing 3 concerts the week after. 

All the details are on this website…

So! I’m back on the horse (road/piano) after months of recording my new album, and  it’ll be strange to be playing live the precious material I’ve been working on. 

I so hope the audience loves it as much as I do…..!

In boogie and blues,

Jan