They are currently on the 30-date “UpClose” tour and they are also on the bill at numerous festivals including the Wychwood Festival at Cheltenham in June (read on to win tickets).

Dared by fans to sing their downloadable single, ‘Crooked Man’, at the polling station on the day of the elections, they went one better and played it at the Labour club

Show Of Hands are Steve Knightley and Phil Beer who have been together in this format since 1991. There was a previous incarnation when they were teenagers. They grew up together in the Southwest of England and they even had an ill-fated tour of Sweden when the pair were 16. However, since the formation of Show Of Hands, they have become renowned for their live shows and they have released a number of live albums. In 2004, they were nominated for both ‘Best Group’ and ‘Best Live Act’ at the Radio 2 Folk Awards.

So with all this acclaim, I asked Phil if he thought their time had come as more established members of a nu-folk wave. He said he preferred to think of Show Of Hands not particularly as just a folk band or rock band but more of a unique cottage industry. This fits in well with their community of fans that extends further afield than just the Southwest. This was best evidenced when they came together to sell out the Royal Albert Hall, twice! (1996 and 2001). They were actually staying at a fan’s house in-between the Biddulph and Lancaster gigs when we spoke. Phil says that they sometimes do this as it’s preferable to staying in hotels.

Steve and Phil are clearly complementary and compatible both in their background and their musicianship. Phil used to be in the Albion Band (post their John Peel session days) before joining up again with Steve. Phil is in constant demand as a session musician due to his multi-instrumentalist prowess (fiddle, guitar, mandolin and more). Whilst in Show Of Hands, he’s also been busy in other side projects such as his solo appearances, a duo with Deb Sandland and The Phil Beer Band. He says now that for the next two years it’s going to be 100% Show Of Hands and no extraneous stuff.

Steve’s the singer/songwriter and his studies at Coventry University in history and politics are a rich source of inspiration. There are countless examples, ‘Class Of Seventy Three’ focuses on the decline of the coal mining industry. There is also an anti-war stance such as ‘Armadas’, which looks at the Falklands/Malvinas War from the point of view of servicemen on either side.

This is the type of material you could expect from his friend (and Dorset resident), Billy Bragg. Steve tells me that there aren’t any plans to appear at Tolpuddle Festival this year but they have teamed up with Billy working on a youth music project in Bridport. Clearly he hasn’t lost the desire to teach as he’s been a supply teacher in the past and gave P.J. Harvey guitar lessons. Also check, ‘Cut-throat, Crooks and Conmen’ which includes a condemnation of the Local Authority Education funding.

He is also equally the troubadour on the West Country Celtic tip such as the tale of ‘The Galway Farmer’. It is the story of an Irish farmer punter getting lucky at the Cheltenham Festival after he had a dream of “coal black mare” coming home. I was surprised to hear that they have already performed this once at the Cheltenham Racecourse at a festival with Tom Robinson. Steve certainly is looking forward to doing it again as he says the response was amazing.

If big festivals are not your thing, they can also do the small venue. I can recommend their annual family concert at Abbotsbury Tropical Gardens (9 July, 2005). I saw them about the time of the Cold Frontier tour in 2001, where one of the highlights was an inspired medley of ‘The Battle Of The Somme’, ‘The Keeper’ and ‘Time After Time’ (as featured on the CD ‘Cold Cuts’). Phil says that the Abbotsbury gig is special for them as it’s a beautiful setting and it is what it says it is, a concert for all the family.

They received the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Group for their part in the Oysterband-inspired ‘The Big Session’ this year. While the year before, they walked away with Best Live Act. They’re appearing again with The Oysterband at The Big Session this year in Leicester on June 18.

Have a look at the Show Of Hands website for details of all their activities. On the message board, they were dared by fans to sing their downloadable single ‘Crooked Man’ at the polling station on the day of the elections. Better than that, Steve said they played it at the Labour club but thought the crowd might not have got it. ‘Crooked Man’ is a good taster for the latest live CD, As You Were.

You will soon hear why they were voted ‘Best Live Act’ last year. And if the Galway Farmer’s still got a few Euros burning in his pockets, this time Lady Luck’s advice is to go for the short odds on Show Of Hands to repeat the win.

Links:
Win a pair of tickets to see them at Wychwood!
Show Of Hands website
Wychwood Festival. The World and Roots Festival, 3-5 June 2005, Cheltenham Racecource, Glos.
UpClose 2005
Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens and Swannery. There’s a live version of ‘Time After Time’ by Cyndi Lauper on 1996 Royal Albert Hall recording. Also check the version by Miles Davis on ‘You’re Under Arrest’ (1985).
Phil Beer
Bridge in Topsham Devon Phil’s favourite pub
Billy Bragg
Tolpuddle Festival
P.J Harvey
Oysterband Electric folk rock five piece