Jack Common's Anthem

• Track Listing

The UK North East meets the South West, as acclaimed County Durham songwriter Jez Lowe calls on Devon's top folk duo Show of Hands to assist him with his 14th collection of original songs, and his first solo album since 1988. Producer Steve Knightley steers Jez through eleven new songs, including three from Jez's contributions to acclaimed BBC series the Radio Ballads, with assistance from the Bad Pennies (Kate Bramley on violin and vocals, Andy May on piano and tin whistle and David de la Haye on bass guitar) plus recording engineer Phil Beer on slide guitar and violin, Jenna on vocals, and Dave McKeown on clarinet. Jez's Radio Ballads role as wordsmith and musician, interpreting the lives and attitudes of the working men and women of Northern Britain, is further explored in this set, harking back to his own roots in Ireland and in the coal-mining community of East Durham.