Singer/songwriter Jez is an enchanting performer with an engaging North-Eastern wit. His songs are mainly written in a traditional style, accompanied on guitar, cittern and harmonica.

Jez is often found accompanied by his band The Bad Pennies. He was nominated for the 2008 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Singer of the Year.

He has built an enviable reputation as a songwriter and performer in the world of acoustic sounds with more than a dozen albums and countless live performances around the world.

Also performing are Long Hankin, Harp & A Monkey, Roger Davies, and The Raven in a night which is part of the Folk 21 West Midlands Regional Day.

For tickets please visit http://www.ents24.com/wolverhampton-events/newhampton-arts-centre/jez-lowe/3382777

I’ll be playing a 45 minute set on Friday 10th May 2012, accompanied by my backing band. I’m on stage at 7.15pm.

Entry is by donation, and it is at Mere Brow, Nr Tarleton, Lancs PR4 6JX.

If you’re not sure where this is, it is at a ten acre site adjacent to the Leisure Lakes Complex at Mere Brow near Tarleton, Lancashire (between Preston & Southport).

For more information, visit http://www.campfrack.org/

See you there!

The purpose of our visit was to present a cheque to the HJC from our recent benefit gig at the Casa which featured me, Gary, and Tracey Curtis. We raised over £1,000.

We spent over an hour with an Evertonian who lost his brother, and a woman who lost her husband. Both men were 38 when they lost their lives at Hillsborough.

During our conversation, they each recounted their stories of that day and the days afterwards.

The thing that struck me most is that while the news media now belatedly focus on the big injustices, the cover ups, the lies, the negligence – there are hundreds of beat by beat stories from loved ones that contain a multitude of contempts and injustices in the hours and days after the disaster.

The moments that could and should have happened with empathy and care for people whose worlds had imploded, but who were instead treated so differently.

Like the lack of basic human understanding for a fine man who was told he was not allowed to kiss his brother goodbye because he was now “the property of South Yorkshire police.”

The same man who drove all the way to Sheffield in search of news only for a police officer to tell him “fuck off” when he arrived.

All on the day of a tragedy that stole the lives of 96 good people, and tore the heart out of 96 families.

The story in the news is never the full story. The full story is the beat by beat moments from each and every loved one as they came to learn the horror of what happened that day. The moments of dread, fear, hope that all was in fact well, and then the often callously delivered news that it was not.

I often say that, for the truth, you can never match the testimony of ordinary people. That the truth exists not in the words of the authorities and the politicians, but in the words of the people.

Never did that feel truer than in the stories that were shared with me today. Justice.

As you know I play Jesus’ brother James in a historic battle with Paul over the future of Christianity. But don’t listen to me, here’s what the Liverpool Echo had to say.

“Fantastical…it’s challenging, provocative theatre…serves up some thought-provoking ideas that linger long after the actors take their final bow. A fearless performance by Rachael Boothroyd as Mary Magdalene….strong performances from key figures, particularly for James, Jesus’ brother (Alun Parry) and Paul (made a strangely likeable schemer by Mike Leane)”.

There will also be a Q & A session regarding the history, politics and religion of the times after the shows with the writer and the co-director.

It’s at Theatre@TheCasa, The Casa, 29 Hope Street, Liverpool, L1 9BQ

April – Friday 19th, Saturday 20th
Shows start 7.30pm
Tickets £5, to reserve tickets phone 07913449396 or pay on the door

For further information check out www.burjesta-theatre.co.uk
Or Facebook at ‘Burjesta Theatre’
Or on Twitter @Burjesta

You are encouraged to bring songs from her era or have something to say about her, among our usual fare.

It will of course be suitably solemn and respectful. So bring smiles and party hats.

Thursday 25th April, 7.30pm doors, 8pm start, The Ship & Mitre.

Tickets are for sale at http://www.wegottickets.com/event/218000