The National Pep are delighted to announce that we have our new line-up in place, but being the teases we are we are going to release this information to you in drips and drops over the coming weeks. To start with, we would like to announce the return to the fold of Lullington Garth (The Master Bluesman) on steel guitar, who was a founder of the band along with Olsen, Mazeppa and the now-departed Tilt, but had to leave due to 'the incident' with 'the things'. He is now firmly ensconsed in the bosom of the Pep, and we shall never again even *mention* celery.

Also returning is Sweet Josie Miller, chanteuse extraordinaire, who will be gracing the stages of the Southernmost parts of the country only, as her inability to cross moving bodies of water makes her unable to travel far north. Sweet Josie, however, will only be rejoining the troupe later in the year, as she first has to fulfill her commitment to a three-month tour of the Antipodean penal colonies.

And finally (for now at least) we are proud to announce that drummer Martin Braun will be sitting in for a handful of performances (or 'gigs' to use the young persons' parlance of the day).

We will shortly be announcing further members of the orchestra, including vocalists, keyboard players and flautists.

The National Pep Touring Company will be making its debut performance at Lark In The Park in London on March 1. As this is a provincial performance, rather than a performance by our full repertory company, you may expect a rather scaled-down version of the full grandeur that would await you if you ventured to Manchester, but the touring company will do their best to present to you the full delights of Pep Sounds as adjusted for live performance. We will be performing with Daniel Land And The Modern Painters, and hope to see you there.