Lancashire singer Brian Preston recently gave a rare performance at Gregson Lane Folk Club. Clips from the night can be found on YouTube, first one here .

Brian Preston began his life and his folk music career under his family name as Brian Dewhurst. He served his apprenticeship as a floor-singer and resident in the folk clubs of his native Lancashire through the early years of the Folk Revival. In 1966 he joined the highly-respected and popular band the Wayfarers where he continued to polish his trade. In 1970 he formed the semi-professional duo Horden Raikes with Ron Flanagan.

Brian turned professional as a solo artist in 1973, but continued to work with other musicians, notably with Tom Tiddler's Ground in the late '70s. A career shift to television required a change of name – Equity rules permit only one user of a "professional name" – and they already had a Brian Dewhurst on the books! So Brian adopted the name of his native town.

After a long career as an international entertainer, Brian Preston continues to entertain audiences with the same powerful voice, driving guitar style, and the unstoppable line of chat with which he began.

There are eleven YouTube clips, search for "Brian Preston Gregson Lane" to find them all. They seem to me to be a pretty good representation of the man and his music.

Ross