24:
272:
264:
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394:, came to an end in November 2018. This series has featured more than a dozen Jez Lowe songs (bringing it to a total of over fifty of his songs that have been used since the "new" radio Ballads project began in 2006). Lowe also provided the lyrics to John Tams's theme music for this series, entitled "The Cherry-Cheeked Optimists", from episodes two to five. An off-shoot from the Radio Ballads, a project called
106:
367:
in 2016, consisting entirely of new songs written by
Tilston and Lowe in collaboration. Lowe's long-time partnership with Canadian songwriter James Keelaghan also continues, with a joint tour of Canada lined up for 2024. A "live" album by the pair, recorded in Australia in 2002, was released in 2017.
434:, for a programme about Tynemouth in 2017, a Hallowe'en special in 2021, a programme to commemorate the 1932 "mass-trespass" on Kinder Scout, a mountain in the Peak District, in January 2023, and a programme about a journey taken by 18th century Northumbrian piper Jamie Allen across North Yorkshire.
300:
at
Easington Colliery.) Numerous other songs by Lowe deal with the general issues of poverty and limited social opportunity in the region. Amongst those who have recorded Jez Lowe songs are Fairport Convention, The Dubliners, The Unthanks, The Tannahill Weavers, The Young Uns, Bob Fox, Megson, The
371:
Since 2011, he has been part of a quartet known as The Pitmen Poets, alongside Benny Graham, Billy
Mitchell and Bob Fox. They have toured extensively every few years around the UK, and have released three albums of songs about the coal mining communities of North east England.
279:
John Gerard Lowe grew up witnessing the decline of the coal-mining industry that had defined the region's economic profile for generations. A great many of Lowe's compositions address the economic distress that the North
Country has suffered as a result of this
387:, was published in 2019, and a third, "Piper's Lonnen", in 2022, together with a 5-track CD of songs and pipe-tunes mentioned in the book, featuring long-time collaborator Andy May on Northumbrian Pipes. A fourth novel is due for publication in early 2024.
911:
442:
Note: All of Jez Lowe's albums have been released on CD with the exception of his self-titled debut album from 1980. However, the contents of that entire album are available as bonus tracks in the CD reissues of
329:
in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Jez Lowe was commissioned to write 22 new songs for the documentary-folk series, which were not all performed by Lowe but featured guest vocals from the likes of Barry Coope,
379:, through the independent publisher Badapple Books. The story of the novel includes many references to traditional North East of England folk songs, many of which are included on a CD, also called
275:
Jez Lowe and the Bad
Pennies in Hobart, Australia in 2002. L-R: L-R: Kate Bramley, fiddle; Jez Lowe; Judy Dinning (vocals, percussion); Simon Howarth (electric double bass, keyboards, vocals).
414:, which he scripted and introduced. It was a comprehensive introduction to the many aspects of folk music from North East England, and included interviews with Ed Pickford, Benny Graham,
243:. He performs both as a solo artist and with his backing band, The Bad Pennies. In addition to singing his songs, Lowe accompanies himself and The Bad Pennies on guitar, harmonica,
292:," and "These Coal Town Days" are among the songs that directly address economic conditions. In the much larger category of social impact songs, well known Lowe compositions are "
398:, also features three Jez Lowe songs and was released on CD in 2015. Two further songs were composed by Jez for inclusion in a BBC Radio Two production of Michael Morpurgo's book
348:, as Folksinger of the Year and for Song of the Year ("The Pitmen Poets"), but again failed to win in either category. He was on tour in Canada at the time of the ceremony, with
337:
In 2008, Lowe was nominated as 'Folksinger of the Year' in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, but ultimately lost the category to young
Scottish singer and instrumentalist
650:
Reissues: In the US (1995) on
Firebird CD and in the UK (1996) on Fellside CD 1995. Includes an extra track recorded in 1988, but left off the original LP release.
33:
410:
As well as the BBC Radio
Ballads series, Lowe has also made several broadcasts for BBC radio, starting with a series of five programmes in 1999 called
901:
383:, presented as a continuous "suite" of music and songs which culminates in the song "Dol Li A", upon which the story is based. A second novel,
296:," "Greek Lightning," and "Last of the Widows." (His song, "Last of the Widows", was written in 1991 to mark the fortieth anniversary of the
59:
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81:
891:
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468:(2021) a 5 CD box set of all his recordings for the Fellside label from 1980 to 1993, with additional bonus/unreleased tracks.
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McCalmans, Liam Clancy, Cherish The Ladies, The Black Family, Tom McConville, Enda Kenny, Men of the Deeps and many more.
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44:
38:
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63:
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documentary series broadcast on Radio 2 as a homage to the original series of the same title, pioneered by
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223:, in a family with Irish roots. He is known primarily for his compositions dealing with daily life in
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462:(2022) a 5 track CD in collaboration with Andy May of songs and tunes mentioned in Jez's third novel.
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422:, Annie Fentiman, Terri Freeman and others. One programme from this series was re-broadcast on
363:, which sees them do thirty-plus concerts together every year, and which resulted in the album
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Reissue: Musica
Pangaea CD 1996 USA, with 6 additional tracks, being Side A of the
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Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced
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Reissue: Fellside CD 1999 with 5 additional tracks, being Side B of the
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He has an on-going working partnership with guitarist/singer-songwriter
334:
and many more. The series went on to win two Sony Radio
Academy Awards.
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People educated at English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College
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Reissue: Tantobie CD 2001 with 3 extra tracks recorded in 2001.
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559:(2008) (two discs – CD live Feb. 2008; DVD live Nov. 2007)
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Tantobie 2005, with six bonus tracks from the 1994 album
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in 2017, which is linked to the Child Migration project.
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Back Shift: a collection of songs from 1980 to 1986
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712:– Jez Lowe and Easington District Musicians (1994)
621:Tantobie 2003, with 3 previously unreleased tracks
426:in 2018. He has also been guest presenter on the
375:In January 2018, Lowe published his first novel,
344:In 2015, Lowe received two nominations for the
267:Jez Lowe performing at TwickFolk, February 2015
219:singer-songwriter. Lowe was born and raised in
744:Sight Rhymes – Jez Lowe & the Bad Pennies
8:
390:The final series of the BBC Radio Ballads,
775:The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music
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284:, and the social repercussions thereof. "
259:Lowe on stage in Hobart, Australia in 1997
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733:(2002) (all 12 songs written by Jez Lowe)
731:Fighting The Tide: a play by Kate Bramley
486:(2016) a collaboration with Steve Tilston
82:Learn how and when to remove this message
547:- limited edition Christmas album (2015)
756:
356:, under the trio-name "Men At Words".
496:Heads Up: 18 Essential Jez Lowe Songs
7:
619:The Parish Notices – The Art Edition
606:CD reissues with additional tracks
227:, particularly in his hometown of
215:(born 14 July 1955) is an English
43:it lacks sufficient corresponding
14:
557:Northern Echoes: Live on the Tyne
312:In 2006, Lowe contributed to the
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902:English male singer-songwriters
239:and later studied languages at
710:Banners: Music For East Durham
396:The Ballads of Child Migration
1:
715:Jake Walton & Jez Lowe –
704:The Ballad of Child Migration
634:Tenterhooks – The Art Edition
539:Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies
233:St Francis RC Grammar School
54:, especially if potentially
34:biography of a living person
843:The Folk Record Source Book
830:The Folk Record Source Book
817:The Folk Record Source Book
804:The Folk Record Source Book
392:The Ballad of The Great War
58:or harmful. Please help to
52:must be removed immediately
37:includes a list of general
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907:English singer-songwriters
400:Alone on a Wide, Wide Sea
103:
706:Delphonic Records (2015)
892:English male guitarists
887:English folk guitarists
629:(Green Linnet 1995 CD)
614:(Green Linnet 1998 CD)
466:The Fellside Collection
66:more precise citations.
724:Other connected albums
719:Fellside FE 055 (1986)
534:Fellside FE 023 (1980)
528:Fellside FE 034 (1983)
522:Fellside FE 049 (1985)
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241:Sunderland Polytechnic
213:John Gerard "Jez" Lowe
116:Background information
599:Briefly on the Street
575:Live at the Davy Lamp
545:Could Feet Again, Pet
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110:Lowe on stage in 2011
897:English folk singers
860:"Jez Lowe's website"
845:; Second ed.; p. 265
841:Pohle, Horst (1987)
828:Pohle, Horst (1987)
815:Pohle, Horst (1987)
802:Pohle, Horst (1987)
698:Collaborative albums
502:Jack Common's Anthem
185:, Fellside, Tantobie
782:. pp. 1527/8.
780:Guinness Publishing
684:(Fellside 1983 LP)
682:The Old Durham Road
669:(Fellside 1985 LP)
658:(Fellside 1986 LP)
647:(Fellside 1988 LP)
526:The Old Durham Road
445:The Old Durham Road
778:(First ed.).
612:The Parish Notices
581:The Parish Notices
412:A Song For Geordie
282:industrial decline
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229:Easington Colliery
225:North-East England
147:Easington Colliery
832:; 2nd ed.; p. 265
819:; 2nd ed.; p. 265
806:; 2nd ed.; p. 265
490:The Ballad Beyond
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170:Years active
141:14 July 1955
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72:October 2013
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877:1955 births
691:album, 1980
676:album, 1980
627:Tenterhooks
587:Tenterhooks
569:Honesty Box
472:Crazy Pagan
428:BBC Radio 4
424:BBC 6 Music
416:Vin Garbutt
314:BBC Radio 2
251:Songwriting
162:Folk singer
64:introducing
871:Categories
751:References
717:Two A Roue
656:Two A Roue
593:Bede Weeps
237:Hartlepool
235:in nearby
137:1955-07-14
122:Birth name
39:references
667:Galloways
645:Bad Penny
632:Reissue:
617:Reissue:
551:Wotcheor!
520:Galloways
514:Bad Penny
449:Galloways
286:Galloways
153:, England
689:Jez Lowe
674:Jez Lowe
563:Doolally
532:Jez Lowe
454:Jez Lowe
98:Jez Lowe
56:libelous
638:Banners
510:(1992)
430:series
332:Bob Fox
245:cittern
199:jezlowe
194:Website
60:improve
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746:(2007)
601:(1990)
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553:(2010)
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474:(2020)
438:Albums
179:Labels
41:, but
31:This
784:ISBN
738:DVDs
447:and
352:and
325:and
288:," "
217:folk
201:.com
131:Born
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