David is a professional musician, performer & tutor, aka Lil Chuck, Davey Backyard & The Harmonica Guy. He has been performing in Christchurch for 16 years, and in March ’19 released his 3rd Lil Chuck Album. He will be passing on to his students the mechanics of the Harmonica, it’s history, how to play a melody, play single notes and bend them, How to play The Blues, Country, Folk and everything in-between. David is a very patient and enthusiastic tutor and will give you all the tools you need to get you started on your Harmonica journey.
Have a question? Ring Music & Arts Trust Hanmer Springs Trustee Jane van Kuelen 027 443 4541
Pencarrow is Rob’s 3rd solo album, following on from Rainlovers (1996) and Black and White. To celebrate the release Rob will embark on an album tour through New Zealand with a side trip to Sydney.
“Accomplished…..powerfully beautiful….well focused songs…lived in voice” – Graham Reid (2014)
With his band Hobnail looking forward to a 25th Anniversary tour and “Best Of” album in 2019, Rob resolved to take things a little easier in 2018, having spent a busy 2017 recording and touring Hobnail’s 7th album, Blue Sky Songs.
So of course he started working on a solo album…..
While Rob’s previous album “Black and White” was a deeply personal work that collected a group of songs written around the break up of his marriage, Pencarrow is the work of a songwriter whose life is in a much better place.
Pencarrow contains 8 new originals, an acoustic re-working of Best Country Song finalist “Baggage” and a great version of Paul Kelly’s “When I First Met Your Ma”, which has long been a staple of Rob’s live set. The album also features members of Rob’s backing band The Small Mercies: Hamish Graham on drums and backing vocals, Alan Norman on keys, Murray Costello on bass, and guests Kim Bonnington on backing vocals and Tony Burt on dobro.
Review for first single “Souvenir”
The band has the goods, with layers of sound and brilliant vocals to entertain the masses. Souvenir is catchy with brilliant lyrics and a country music style.
muzic.net.nz – Rating – 4/5
Rob is well known to many music fans throughout New Zealand through his work with Hobnail, The Shot Band, and Too Many Chiefs. He writes compulsively, tours incessantly, teaches guitar, produces albums, and can be found behind a mixing desk live and in the studio when time allows. His songs have been covered by artists both in NZ and abroad, and he is a 3 time finalist at the NZ Music Awards.
“this album has reached new heights and illustrates the evolvement of very good musicians who keep getting better” – Phil Taylor “Blue Sky Songs” review
Steve has been an Upholsterer for over 30 years, and has been teaching for over 18 years. He is looking forward to teaching at the Spring School in 2019.
JAN PRESTON’s workshop Learn To Play Boogie and Blues Piano takes piano players, elementary and advanced, on a journey towards playing the exciting and uplifting style of Boogie/Blues Piano.
This is a Half Day Course.
Participants will learn the many left hand “8-to-the-bar” patterns on which the right hand can improvise, learning to dig into the groove with confident timing, whilst simplifying or embellishing the bass to suit your hand and ability.
And having fun!
Workshops ideally have a capacity of around 12 players with access to a keyboard or piano each or between them.
By the way, it’s also possible to add lyrics to the boogie/blues beat, so players may even want to write their own song!
The workshop runs about one hour and Jan will hand out notes which can be taken away and used as follow up.
JAN PRESTON has been a professional piano player, singer and composer for more than 40 years. She has taught film composition at the Australian Film School in Sydney where she lives, as well as conducting many piano workshops at festivals throughout Australia and NZ. From a background in classical music with a long-term interest in composition and song writing, Jan has won 5 music awards for her soundtracks and CDs, and performs side by side with the greatest contemporary boogie piano players in the world today.
She is the co-author of a tutoring book She Plays Boogie andBlues Piano published through Tredition in Germany.
Have a question? Ring Music & Arts Trust Hanmer Springs Trustee Jane van Kuelen 027 443 4541
FRIDAY MAY 24th 7.30pm HANMER SPRINGS MEMORIAL HALL DOOR SALES $15.
In her show 88 Pianos I Have Known JAN PRESTON shares with us her passion for pianos. Projected images combine with unforgettable biographical stories, original songs and piano music, which will move you from tears to laughter. Underpinned by Jan’s thrilling virtuosity, audiences will be tapping and clapping, and may leave never looking at a piano in quite the same way again!
JAN PRESTON is a knockout boogie pianist with a rich resonant voice who has captured audiences around the world with her originality, her energy, and her sparkling charm and gentle wit.
From a background in classical music with a long-term interest in composition and song writing, her early career began in NZ with the 1980 No 1 Hit Band Coup D’Etat.
Winner of 5 music awards, Jan has now sold out concerts throughout Australia, NZ, Europe and the UK, composes music for film and TV (most recently for her sister Gaylene Preston’s film My Year With Helen) and performs side by side with the greatest contemporary boogie piano players in the world today. “an inspirational and gifted pianist, performer and entertainer” Rhythms Magazine
