[1] John Gerard Lowe grew up witnessing the decline of the coal-mining industry that had defined the region's economic profile for generations.

A great many of Lowe's compositions address the economic distress that the North Country has suffered as a result of this industrial decline, and the social repercussions thereof.

In the much larger category of social impact songs, well known Lowe compositions are "Big Meeting Day," "Greek Lightning," and "Last of the Widows."

Amongst those who have recorded Jez Lowe songs are Fairport Convention, The Dubliners, The Unthanks, The Tannahill Weavers, The Young Uns, Bob Fox, Megson, The McCalmans, Liam Clancy, Cherish The Ladies, The Black Family, Tom McConville, Enda Kenny, Men of the Deeps and many more.

In 2008, Lowe was nominated as 'Folksinger of the Year' in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, but ultimately lost the category to young Scottish singer and instrumentalist Julie Fowlis.

A second novel, The Corly Croons, was published in 2019, and a third, "Piper's Lonnen", in 2022, together with a 5-track CD of songs and pipe-tunes mentioned in the book, featuring long-time collaborator Andy May on Northumbrian Pipes.

It was a comprehensive introduction to the many aspects of folk music from North East England, and included interviews with Ed Pickford, Benny Graham, Vin Garbutt, Mark Knopfler, Annie Fentiman, Terri Freeman and others.