Jenny Huston

Infobox Radio Presenter
name = Jenny Huston
imagesize = 150px
caption =
birthname =
birthdate = August 24 1973
birthplace = Vancouver, Canada
deathdate =
deathplace =
show = The Waiting Room
station = 2fm
timeslot = Fridays, 8 - 10 p.m.
show2 = The Annex
station2 = 2fm
timeslot2 = Saturdays, 6 - 8 p.m.
style = Disc Jockey
country = flagicon|Ireland Republic of Ireland
prevshow =
web = [http://www.rte.ie/2fm/jennyhuston/ Official Website]
[http://www.rte.ie/2fm/ 2fm Website] |

:"Not to be confused with Anjelica Huston."

Jenny Huston (born August 24 1973) is a DJ and former television presenter on RTÉ 2fm [ [http://www.rte.ie/2fm/jennyhuston/ Jenny Huston at rte.ie] ] and RTÉ Television as well as a widely respected figure on the Irish music scene. She currently presents three different shows on 2fm; contemporary indie rock music show " [http://www.rte.ie/2fm/thewaitingroom/ The Waiting Room] " on Friday nights, classic indie rock anthems show " [http://www.rte.ie/2fm/theannex/ The Annex] " on Saturday nights and magazine show "The Snug" which is broadcast on Sunday nights. She received a Best DJ Meteor nomination in 2005, [cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/0111/meteormusicawards.html|title=Meteor Music Awards nominations announced|date=2005-01-11|accessdate=2008-08-27|publisher=RTÉ] and again in 2006 [cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/1124/meteorawards.html|title=RTÉ 2fm trio make Meteor shortlist|date=2005-11-24|accessdate=2008-08-27|publisher=RTÉ] but narrowly lost out on both occasions to Ray D'Arcy of Today FM. A highlight of her television career was co-hosting RTÉ's Electric Picnic coverage with Tom Dunne in 2006, [cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/arts/2006/0825/electricpicnic.html|title=RTÉ Two to broadcast Electric Picnic|date=2006-08-25|accessdate=2008-01-12|publisher=RTÉ] a failed experiment that the television station has not undertaken again.

Since joining 2fm in June 2003, Jenny has firmly established a reputation for giving up-and-coming Irish acts a chance to have their music heard, earning much respect for her excellent understanding of music in general. In July 2006, Huston found herself fronting 2fm's coverage of that summer's Oxegen festival. [ [http://www.oxegen.ie/ oxegen.ie] ] She has gone on to broadcast for 2fm at Oxegen 2007 and Oxegen 2008, as well as continuing her coverage of the Electric Picnic for the radio station. In August 2008 she provided cover for Gerry Ryan on his morning radio chat show, a role she has filled for some time.

Early years

Jenny was born to Irish parents in Vancouver, Canada, her parents having emigrated there in the 1960s. [ [http://www.cork2005.ie/press/release.asp?id=539 Cork 2005 Press Release] ] She attended the University of Vancouver, earning a degree in psychology in the process. Whilst there, Huston became involved at CFUV, the on-campus radio station at the University of Victoria. An avid music fan, she displayed signs of her blossoming talent and delighted in spending afternoons delving through her vast music collection, converting her fellow students to acts as wide in scope as PJ Harvey and Pixies.

Career

Arrival in Ireland

Huston moved to Ireland in 1996, at a time, she later remarked, when recycling was not widely carried out in Ireland. ["GRS", RTÉ 2fm, Monday April 14 2008] Her first radio stint in Ireland was at Radio Kilkenny. Moving to Dublin city in 1997, Jenny returned to her studies, taking Arts Administration in UCD, while simultaneously immersing herself in the Irish music scene. She approached infamous Dublin indie pirate station Phantom 105.2, and found herself back on the radio in 1999 co-presenting the hugely popular "The Girly Hour" and taking on the roles of both producer and presenter on "The Waiting Room". Unable to survive on this alone, by day she worked as General Manager with The Corn Exchange, a multi award winning independent theatre company, where she produced numerous shows including Car Show, Lolita, Foley and Mud.

Film and television

Huston has also contributed to various programmes across RTÉ. These include RTÉ Radio One's "Pat Kenny Show", the (now defunct) "Rattlebag" arts show and the station's flagship production, "Morning Ireland". On 2fm, Jenny has featured on "The Gerry Ryan Show", "The Avril Hoare Show" and alongside legendary Irish DJ Dave Fanning. She also presented the magazine talk show, "The Snug", where she excelled as a candid and informed interviewer of, among others, Billy Bragg, Buzzcocks front man Pete Shelley and The Charlatans's Tim Burgess. She branched out of music to cover a wide diversity of topics including broadband, complementary medicine, blaggers guides, wine and cheese.

Huston has previously worked as a music consultant on film projects, including the Irish horror "Boy Eats Girl".

Huston has also appeared on a range of TV shows including RTE Two's youth entertainment programme "ID", plus guest contributions on RTÉ shows such as "The Café", "The Big Bite" and the world's longest running TV chat show "The Late Late Show". In 2006, alongside Today FM's Tom Dunne, Huston presented nine hours of live music coverage from the Electric Picnic festival, [ [http://www.electricpicnic.ie/flash.html electricpicnic.ie] ] as part of RTÉ's Two Sounds strand. This took place over two days.

Style

Jenny has a unique musical taste, bringing a diverse mix of alternative and indie rock to 2fm's listeners. Within months of joining the station, Huston's programme had built a substantially enthusiastic following. Her willingness to grant much-needed airtime to emerging Irish artists further enhanced her role as one of Ireland's leading Irish musical patrons. She is highly regarded for her diverse knowledge of both the local and international music scene and for her approachable, easy on the ears presenting style.

Personal life

Jenny's mum lives in Kilkenny. She has a brother and sister living in Canada. ["GRS", Wednesday 20 Aug 2008] On [http://www.rte.ie/2fm/jennyhuston/ her official website] , Jenny lists PJ Harvey ("To Bring You My Love") "or" Pixies ("Surfer Rosa") as "probably" her favourite album of all time, and Beastie Boys, Ministry and Radiohead as (so far) the best gigs she has ever been to. She is also well-known for revealing details of her personal life on air. After playing his song "Cars", Jenny described Gary Numan as one of the highlights of her Electric Picnic 2006 and one of the nicest people she had ever interviewed. ["The Annex", 17 Feb 2007] Jenny revealed her shoe size is UK ladies size 7, having been asked by an inquisitive listener. ["The Annex", 16 June 2007] She has also talked about her experiences of being in love, although whilst covering for Gerry Ryan she "outed" her childhood friend, Julie as habitually running to the toilet every time she encountered a particular lad she had a crush on - the friend was said to be "happily married with family now". ["GRS", Thursday 21 Aug 2008]

References

External links

* [http://www.rte.ie/2fm/jennyhuston/ Jenny's Official Website]
* [http://www.rte.ie/2fm/ 2fm's official website]
* [http://www.rte.ie/ RTÉ's official website]
* [http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/1124/meteorawards.html Jenny Huston - 2006 Meteor nominee]
* [http://www.rte.ie/arts/2005/0111/meteormusicawards.html Jenny Huston - 2005 Meteor nominee]
* [http://images.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.route66.ie/images/2006/jenny_winslow.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.route66.ie/diary/october7.php&h=533&w=800&sz=150&hl=en&start=3&tbnid=9lG44iBtWtE3DM:&tbnh=95&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djenny%2Bhuston%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den Jenny's trip across America in aid of Temple Street Children's Hospital] "(included is an image of her in Arizona under a large dog)"
* [http://www.cork2005.ie/press/release.asp?id=539 Cork - Jenny's involvement in the European Capital of Culture 2005]
* [http://www.ladiesfootball.tcdlife.ie/profiles/jenny.php Jenny Goes to College]
* [http://www.electricpicnic.ie/flash.html Official Electric Picnic Website]