We are listed in Gig Guide Ltd
Gigs, Bands, Music Venues and Music Information at Gig Guide Ltd

The band YOU can afford

Making music, making money for charity, and making a difference

ay back in 2002, some boating friends got together to mess around with guitars ‘n’ things. One of their number foolishly agreed to do a gig at a boat rally, and ‘Penny Short’ was born.

he line-up has fluctuated over the intervening years; two or three keyboard players, a couple of brass and wind, different guitarists and mandolin players, loads of talented people have come and gone until we have today’s line-up; Danny on drums, Phil on bass, Colin on mandolin, Wheat and Roger on rhythm guitars, Bob on lead and Jeni on percussion – everyone does vocals.

ne group of people we have to mention are the stalwarts who have set up our ever-changing sound system over the years.. Without Paddy, Gill, Pete, Trevor and Graham, we’d never have achieved the atmosphere at our gigs – after all, the audience do need to hear us, poor things!

ince that first gig in 2002 we have played, on average, one gig a month, usually at boating venues or Country clubs, but we also do festivals, parties, weddings, bar mitzvahs – whatever! We play country, folk, rock, 60s, 70s, sad ballads (and bad salads) and a lot of novelty and comedy numbers. Indeed, tell us what you want and we’ll do it (no, we’re NOT going home!)

e’ve managed to raise over £10,000.00 for various charities such as Breast Cancer Awareness, Leukaemia Trust, Prader-Willi Syndrome Association, Sunfield Children’s Home and Air Ambulances from three counties. We’re currently working to support Jordanne Whiley, Halesowen’s own and the National Wheelchair Tennis Champion, in her training for the Paralympics in 2012.

We donate everything we make to charity and we do it for fun, in our ‘spare’ time.

Ask one of the band (at the bar in the break or via the numbers on the back page) to join our mailing list to receive gig dates and details on upcoming charity work ‘Penny Short’ is involved with.

Here are the adverts…………….

If you need a three-hour interactive/ audience participation/line-dancing/laugh-a-minute* show to raise money/make money/celebrate an occasion* (*delete as applicable)

at £250.00 we’re the band you can afford.

To discuss YOUR requirements:

e-mail: fair_rosamund@msn.com (Jeni)

or call Jeni on 07974 302979

‘Penny Short’……………………….not just a band……………an experience………………and one you can afford…….

Roger, rhythm guitar and vocals, is another founder member who enjoys long walks in cornfields with his ever-faithful dog, Ben. We keep telling him to ‘get a life’ but he’s such a happy little bunny (Bless!) and he’s off to warmer climes in February 2009 – but he’ll be back.....

Dave, known as ‘Wheat’ for reasons we can’t divulge, is responsible for rhythm guitar and vocals, , Wheat came to us after having had a two-year break from the country band Montana Red Dog, one of many he’s played with. In real life he’s the man to talk to about tyres, when he’s not helping Jan sell Gems Delights sweeties, watched carefully by Storm, the ultimate guard dog.

Jeni, vocals and rattley-bangey things like tambourines, joined the band at the start, after a 20-year break from the music business. In another life she acts, writes, directs and teaches when she’s not sitting on her narrowboat with husband Graham, one of our roadies, and their fat white cat, Whiskers.

Colin, a founder member and our mandolin player, is not only a founder member but, along with Roger, he coined the band’s name when they were a duo. He went off to Oz a few years ago on walkabout – where he single-handedly trekked across the outback whilst whistling ‘Waltzing Matilda’

Danny, our singing drummer, is also a boating friend who joined the band in the early days. He had an old drum kit in the loft which he had not played for a good many years, so Danny and the drums came out of retirement. That’s how he became a member of Penny Short.

Bob, on lead guitar and vocals, is our newest recruit. It’s his first time in a band with country roots, but he’s been on the BrumBeat scene with rock, blues and soul bands since the 60's. Admits he didn't realise you could have so much fun in a cowboy hat!!!!

Phil, our very own Mr Bass-man, also sings and writes some of our songs. Numerically challenged since birth, Phil achieved a lifetime's ambition when he downsized to four strings.  In his guise as ‘The Undertaker’, he always carries a knotted one in his pocket, though, just in case!