Chris Priestley


While part of the booming Auckland folk scene of the early 1980s, Chris Priestley wouldn’t be caught dead singing a song with a local place name in it: that was something the old folkies did, something the Australians did.

For Priestley and a new generation calling itself “contemporary folk”, it was mostly about love and love lost, and the material of singer/songwriters such as Mahinaarangi Tocker, Kath Tait, Wayne Gillespie, Chris Thompson – and Priestley’s Acoustic Confusion bandmate Julian McKean – was being shared by one and all.

Acoustic Confusion- Hazy Days LP cover (Real Groovy Records, 1984)
Chris Priestley (right) with Marlon Williams.
Photo credit: Chris Priestley Collection
Chris Priestley with Emily Giles, Phil Powers & Nigel Gavin - Hillside in the Rain Bunker CD Launch 2006. Written by John Hanlon.
Denny Stanway, Brendan Power, and Chris Priestley jamming al fresco with an unidentified guitarist (and dog), early 1980s. 
Photo credit: Chris Priestley Collection
In Folk-Us, 2006. Left to right: Martha Louise, Mark Laurent, Chris Priestley, Brenda Liddiard, Peter Madill.
Acoustic confusion - Gorleben
Chris Priestley, left, with Sonia Wilson and Nigel Gavin.
Photo credit: Chris Priestley Collection
Cover of Chris Thompson's 1993 Coffee Break album, on the Manu (Ode) label. Chris sits with fellow musician and Atomic Cafe owner, Chris Priestley.
Chris Priestley and Chris Hart outside the premises of Real Groovy Records in Mt. Eden Rd, Auckland.
Real Groovy at 492 Queen Street, Auckland
Photo credit: Chris Priestley collection
Notoriety, Chris Priestley and Chris Hart's original store in Grey Lynn - the forerunner to Real Groovy.
Photo credit: Chris Priestley Collection
Chris Priestley with blues legend Brownie McGhee at Java Jive, Ponsonby, 1980s.
Photo credit: Chris Priestley Collection
Acoustic Confusion in the NZ Herald, 17 January 1985
Chris Priestley with Phil Garland
Photo credit: Chris Priestley Collection
Acoustic Confusion and friends at Hamilton Folk Club, c. 1982. From left: Julian McKean, Denny Stanway, Chris Priestley, Mike Harding, Glenn Fuller, and Penny Bousfield.
Photo credit: Chris Priestley Collection
Chris Priestley's mother and sisters.
The Unsung Heroes, 2022 (L-R): Peter Elliott, Sonia Wilson, Cameron Bennett, Nigel Gavin, and Chris Priestley. 
Chris Priestley in Nerves of Steel band with Brendan Power (centre) and Larry Griffin (right).
Photo credit: Chris Priestley Collection
Acoustic Confusion at Tahora, Taranaki
Photo credit: Chris Priestley Collection
Chris Priestley and Mike Harding, Songcatchers tour, 2011.
Chris Priestley performing for the Real Groovy 30th Anniversary.
Photo credit: Chris Priestley Collection
Chris Priestley performing at the Real Groovy Records 30th anniversary with Nigel Gavin, Martha Louise, Angela Fox and Pedro.
Photo credit: Chris Priestley Collection
Emily Giles, Martha Louise and Chris Priestley, 2010.
Cover image for Chris Priestley's CD 'Unsung Heroes: Songs & Stories from New Zealand's Distant Past', 2013
Photo credit: Chris Grosz
Photo from the back cover of Chris Thompson's 1993 Coffee Break album. Chris Thompson sits with fellow musician and Atomic Cafe owner, Chris Priestley.
Acoustic Confusion with the house band at the Gluepot, Auckland
Photo credit: Chris Priestley Collection
Barry Linton, centre, outside Cafe 121, Ponsonby Road, Auckland
Photo credit: Chris Priestley
Acoustic Confusion at Brown Trout Festival, c. 1983. From left: Julian McKean, Denny Stanway, and Chris Priestley. 
Photo credit: Chris Priestley Collection

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