The Thieving Magpies

Paul is a well known and highly respected musician across Cumbria. As a solo acoustic performer he has played many a festival- Solfest, Kendal Calling etc, as well as innumerable bar gigs. He was in Rezzzonator with well known Cumbrian bluesman Phil Saunders, the infectious reggae band The Northern Reggae Generator, eventually going on on to co-front popular roots band Room Full of Mirrors. Still on the go, with three original albums to their name, the Mirrors have become immensely popular, sharing bills with everyone from the Peatbog Fairies to Midge Ure. The Thieving Magpies were formed in 2016 when Harrison felt compelled to return to the blues rock roots of his youth and the rest, as they say, is history... Paul is a well known and highly respected musician across Cumbria. As a solo acoustic performer he has played many a festival- Solfest, Kendal Calling etc, as well as innumerable bar gigs. He was in Rezzzonator with well known Cumbrian bluesman Phil Saunders, the infectious reggae band The Northern Reggae Generator, eventually going on on to co-front popular roots band Room Full of Mirrors. Still on the go, with three original albums to their name, the Mirrors have become immensely popular, sharing bills with everyone from the Peatbog Fairies to Midge Ure. The Thieving Magpies were formed in 2016 when Harrison felt compelled to return to the blues rock roots of his youth and the rest, as they say, is history...

Drummist Ben Steel

Ben has been around the Cumbrian music scene for some time now and is known for being infectious in the way he plays, thoroughly enjoying every single performance and loving what he does. He has played with a number of established local musicians such as Chuck Fish, Andy Halsey and Robin May. He also played with local band Mojo with Diana Denney and Dave Watson. He has appeared with Billy Bragg in a fringe venue at Kendal Calling. Ben is known for his enthusiastic style, fast fills and impactive performance.

Jonty Badd on bass.

Jonty (Rob J Reeves) is a musician and songwriter who has been on the local scene since 2004. He has played guitar or bass in a number of local projects over the years including Permanently Removed, Captain Stogie, The Lentils, No Flag, Even Lennie, Lucky Red Wig, Mojo, Boards of Kendal and Strength in Numbers. Jonty decided to try is hand at something new when he met Paul Harrison in 2015-16 and became the foundation of what has now become the Thieving Magpies.

Alan Whitmore on Keys and Backing Vocals

Alan has enjoyed travelling ‘all over the place’ playing all kinds of styles and genres for over 20 years.  Many different venues from the Blackpool Winter Gardens, the Sands Centre Carlisle, Birmingham Convention Centre to the Nottingham Playhouse.  Numerous Festivals as well as performances in Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria and Cyprus. 

Alan is mostly known for his role as Benny Anderson in the international ABBA Tribute band VOULEZ VOUS. He also played briefly in the same role with acts such a SWEDE DREAMZ and THANK ABBA OR THE MUSIC. He has also performed with other national touring tribute bands such as Kate Bush tribute act “Dreaming of Kate” and the motown band “Baby I need your Lovin’”

Alan has recorded for a numbers for music projects and recordings as a session musician in places such as Great Image Studios, Stockport Old Knows Factory, Presshouse Studio, Devon, Vulcan Studios, Liverpool ,  Cotyso Studios Manchester and Artisan Studios, Stoke-on-Trent.   

In 2015 Alan appeared on Pete Shirley’s album “Sunset Katy and other stories” which has been featured several times on BBC and Digital Radio stations including North American Radio.      

Alan now loves the fresh challenge of playing a different style of music and genre with the Thieving Magpies who he joined in early 2017.