After 15 years Pennyless are now mainly working as a four piece band based in South Lincolnshire at the borders of Cambs, Northants, Leics and Rutland, with Penny Stevens on violin, Les Woods on guitar, Colin Benton on Bass/Mandolin and Ray Duffy on Banjo/Guitar/Mandolin
Theirs is a special sound that is distinctly English cooking up lively, quirky and downright mystical songs from folklore, medieval history and their own musical minds.
Working alongside their original material Pennyless bring in a Bluegrass and Old Timey American feel with pacey instrumentals, Celtic traditional tunes and a diverse mix of off-the-beaten-track cover versions!
Penny and Les sometimes work as an unplugged duo: troubadours on fiddle and guitar, the instrumental arrangements irresistibly fiery and melodic, with warm harmony vocals.
As with most creative musicians, influences are diverse ranging from Pentangle through to Bach and the realms of English folklore, poetry, history and legend.
“a psych-folk tradadelia gem” fRoots magazine, Oct 2012
“Pennyless.. where real ale meets mushroom tea” R2 Rock n Reel magazine Nov 2012
“folk rock with pep and zest” Music maker magazine Nov 2012
“This hard working and ever-popular fixture of the East English live folk music scene offer their fifth album, In the Park in six years. Pleasingly tight in it’s delivery, their accomplished musicianship carries forth delightfully intricate arrangements that ebb and flow beautifully.” Shindig magazine March 2017