Jez Lowe has built an enviable reputation as a songwriter and performer in the world of acoustic music, and as a recognised musical ambassador for his native North East England, with more than a dozen albums and countless live performances around the world over the last twenty years.

Among those who have recorded their own versions of Lowe's songs, are Fairport Convention, The Dubliners, The Tannahill Weavers, Cherish The Ladies, Gordon Bok, The McCalmans, The Black Brothers, Liam Clancy, Bob Fox and literally hundreds of others. Songs like BACK IN DURHAM GAOL, THE BERGEN, GREEK LIGHTNING and THESE COAL TOWN DAYS have generated scores of cover versions around the globe, and are now classics of their kind.

He has performed at some of the most prestigious venues in the world, both solo and with the Bad Pennies, including the main stages at Edmonton Festival (Canada), Tonder Festival (Denmark), The Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian (US), Port Fairy and Byron Bay Festivals (Australia) and at concerts and festivals in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Ireland, Holland, Germany and Spain.

This year (2006) has seen him continue to travel the world's stages, and also participate in a hugely successful series for the BBC, entitled THE RADIO BALLADS, for which he composed 23 new songs, many of which are already finding their way into the repertoires of his peers, and which will soon be forming the basis of a new album for Jez himself, due for release by Tantobie Records in 2007.

Kate Bramley joined The Bad Pennies in November of 2000 as fiddle player and vocalist. Honesty Box was Kate's first full length recording with Jez, after she worked on his commissioned folk-symphony 'Sea of Light' in 2000. Kate still tours solo, and also with U.S based band Sweetgrass, who have a number of cd releases available. See www.drivingmontana.net for more info.. Her solo album of 2000 entitled 'Out On My Own', includes a cover recording of Jez's Northern Echoes. (This album and her earlier 'Walking Home' are now unavailable but re-pressed as a compilation CD in 2003 called 'Old Fashioned Looking Glass'). In 2006 she has released a new solo album, LITTLE CANAAN, produced by Jez, and featuring a mixture of traditional and original songs, including some choice cover versions of other writers' songs.

In addition to a career in music, Kate has a career as a theatre writer and director, running her own Bad Apple Theatre, as well as freelance work for the world-renowned Hull Truck Theatre Company, a partnership that has endured over the last 5 years. In 2002 Kate and Jez collaborated on a new drama "Fighting the Tide" that toured throughout the UK and featured 10 new songs from Jez, released by Tantobie Records as a limited edition "soundtrack" album.

Kate's web site is located at www.katebramley.com

Andy May joined the band in 2002, but had worked with the band prior to his official joining by rehearsing and recording several tracks of the CD, Honesty Box. He had also stepped in as the fourth band member at numerous gigs during early Spring of 2002, including the Honesty Box Launch Party in Newcastle. Bringing a whole new dimension to the band, with his accordion, Northumbrian smallpipes, and whistles, this multi-instrumentalist has quickly expanded from being a sought-after session player for the likes of Kathryn Tickell, to a valued member of a live performance band.

With 20 wins at open piping competitions under his belt, his first at the age of 13, Andy is a record-breaking and holding, nine-time winner of the Northumbrian Pipers Society Annual Open Competition! In addition to his adeptness at playing the pipes, Andy also makes them.

Having studied the pipes at the University of York, Andy has been influenced by Roland Lofthouse, Adrian Schofield, Billy Pigg and Tom Clough.

In 2003 Andy released his first solo album 'Yellow Haired Laddie' with guests: Simon Haworth, Kathryn Tickell, and Simon James.

When not playing with the Bad Pennies, Andy is half of a duet with Bad Penny, Simon Haworth, and also enjoys playing as a trio with Ian Stephenson (Radio 2 Young Folk Award winning guitarist with 422) and Stewart Hardy (ex- John Wright Band).

Dave de la Haye joined the Bad Pennies briefly back in the summer for a couple of festival appearances and now joins the band full time touring into Sping 2007.

Dave hails originally from Jersey but is now based in Newcastle. He tours regularly with the great young fiddle player Shona Mooney- the '2006 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician'- as well as the feel good 'Maybe Myrtle Turtle' and the eclectic 'Anomaly- featuring Shona Mooney'.

Dave is an excellent player ready to turn his hand to any style of music and Jez is very excited to have him join the latest line up of the ever elastic Bad Pennies.