formed in 2002 the nucleus of lightning jack has remained the same since it's conception. comprised of welsh bluesman [professor] lester lloyd-reason [small hours, two let loose] aging rocker phil utting-brown [the axeband, samurai, pagan billy] and classically trained cliff ward - a singer/songwriter in his own write [jeff, the blueberries, troubador] the band are currently "sans drummer" with mark hannington departing on st george's day to devote more time to his professional career. [mark, an irishman, leaving on st george's day! we should have seen that one coming!]. he takes with him our warm thanks and our best wishes for whatever the future has in store for him. maybe it was rocket science, after all early lightning jack shows featured and amalgam of each members musical backgrounds featuring music by lowell george, the waterboys, the levellers, bruce springstein and led zeppelin. the band's first demo included songs by the pogues, john hiatt and steve earle but as the band has evolved original lightning jack material has begun to dominate their most recent shows and the current demo, cunningly dubbed "lightning jack 2" features songs written by the band [of the band, for the band blah blah] work on the band's first album [working title:taxi for one] begins in february aiming themselves loosely at the festival circuit [we like beer tents and free tickets] lightning jack make occasional appearances in cambridgeshire pubs - playing, sometimes - and last year performed at ely folk festival (http://www.elyfolk.co.uk/), cromer folk festival and the rockinbeerfest as well as at ely and cambridge folk clubs. this year's itinerary is still takng shape [check the gig diary] but expect to see lightning jack in 2006 somewhere near you. possibly, a little too near you!