The latest incarnation of Jez’s Big Bad Pennies were a very popular climax to the opening night at Ely Festival in Cambridgeshire this last weekend. Jez was accompanied by regular band members Kate Bramley and David De La Haye, plus part-time member Hinny Pawsey, making a welcome return on fiddle, new percussionist John Littler making his band debut, and as promised, a thrilling return after TWENTY YEARS for keyboard maestro Rob Kay, who helped Jez start the band back in 1989! The Ely crowd was treated to new arrangements of THESE COAL TOWN DAYS, TOM TOM, BLACK TRADE and a most appropriate WATTER’S COMING ANNIE, as part of a ninety minute set. They went on to a similar triumph at Bromsgrove Festival next day. The only other chance to see this line-up in action will be at Whitby Festival next month. Band stalwart Andy May returns from Scandinavia and back to the fold next weekend for a show at Wellingborough… Jez has contributed two songs for next Monday’s Radio Ballads show on BBC Radio 2 at 10pm. The subject is the tragedy of the 1072 Munich Olympics, and his songs are THE EYES OF MANY NATIONS (to be sung by Barry Coope) and DID NOT COMPETE (sung by Jez)… Jez appears solo at Lymm Folk Club, south of Manchester, this Thursday evening.