Madeleine Preston Female Artist Award

Madeleine Preston Female Artist Award

I’m pleased to announce the Madeleine Preston Female Artist Award. The award was made possible after Madeleine’s mother, journalist Yvonne Preston set up a trust after her passing in 2024.

The award will be an annual event with two cash prizes of $10,000 and $3,000. Entries are restricted to female artists living in NSW.

I’m pleased to announce the judges for the award will be:

Lynda Draper

Samantha Ferris

Tina Havelock Stevens

My sincere thanks to our three judges.

Important dates:

Entries close – September 25th 2026

Finalist announced – October 23rd 2026

Award Ceremony – November 18th 2026

The award ceremony will be an exhibition of finalists’ work held at Home@735 Gallery from 6-8pm on Wednesday the 18th November – 735 Bourke Street Redfern.

Applications are now open – here’s a link -

https://shorturl.at/PIeMn

Matt Galvin, Nick Kennedy, AB - photo by Steve McLaren

THE FORRESTERS

Emerging from Sydney’s ongoing lockdown, The Forresters deliver their rock’n’roll antidote - an uplifting power pop album, ‘Something to Give’.

As a feeling of isolation extends across the country and musicians and artists are unable to perform, The Forresters ‘shine a bit of light’ with their sparkling, guitar-based sound. On the back of their debut album and EPs in 2016 & 2019, The Forresters’ follow-up LP ‘Something to Give’ is a joyful excursion into contemporary power pop.

Singer/songwriter Anthony Bautovich’s (The Lonelyhearts, Orange Humble Band) guitar-driven anthems are filled with chiming emotional sounds. ‘Something to Give’ is a blissful evocation of the radiant '70s power pop bands including Big Star, Rasberries and Badfinger.

The shimmering guitar work of Matt Galvin (Perry Keyes, Orange Humble Band) and keyboard playing of Cameron Bruce (Paul Kelly) are elevated by the mighty rhythm section of drummer Nick Kennedy (Big Heavy Stuff, The Electorate) and bass player Steve Balbi (Noiseworks). The record boasts a great line-up of guest appearances including Peter Kelly (The Gadflys, Orange Humble Band) on trumpet, Jess Ciampa (Bernie Hayes, The Nature Strip) on percussion, Nashville based Emma Swift on backing vocals and Charlie Owen (Beasts of Bourbon, Tendrils) on electric guitar.

Founded on a rich sonic tapestry, The Forresters create authentic songs that go straight to the heart. The melodious components of their current single ‘Tightrope’ are carried throughout the album, creating a body of work that is both fresh and timeless.

The Forresters’ distinctive brand of '60s and '70s inspired power pop was produced by the ARIA award winning producer Wayne Connolly with additional recording and mastering by Michael Carpenter. The album was mixed by US indie legend Mitch Easter at his Fidelitorium studio in North Carolina.

‘Something to Give’ is now available through Bandcamp.

design by Madeleine Preston - painting by Sam Massey

I collect old forms of media – photos, slides, 8mm and super 8 films. I purchased some 35mm slides at auction and this 8mm film of a group of people parachuting in regional Australia during the 70s was hidden in one of the boxes. Added the ‘60s bouncing ball animation - enjoy!

REVIEW BLURBS:

“…Sydney outfit the Forresters were formed by singer-songwriter Anthony Bautovich of the critically acclaimed Oz ensemble The Orange Humble Band…it's a cool-sounding EP, and will surely find a home with the alt.country audience that is so enamoured of Vigilantes of Love and Golden Smog…” - Maverick (UK)

“…bright harmonies, guitars that really should be pouring out of open car windows, joy in a Teenage Fanclub / Jayhawks vein…” Americana UK

…it's a luscious mixture of pop, rock, r'n'b, and country, tantalising and exploratory. It never rests on it's laurels: the songs develop and change as they progress, new elements continually introduced, new echoes from rock's rich tapestry setting off gentle footfalls down the passageways of memory…” Nick West - Bucketfull of Brains (UK)

… regardless of vogue, there's always a place for a band like The Forresters…” - Amplifier Magazine (U.S.A)