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Show of Hands turn Newbury’s intimate community venue into a world-class concert hall




Show of Hands at ACE Space, Newbury on Saturday, February 24

Review by TONY TRIGWELL-JONES

Show of Hands Pic: Red Water Images
Show of Hands Pic: Red Water Images

Beer and Knightley have forged their reputation through a lifetime dedicated to folk music in which time their curiosity, professionalism, knowledge and technique have made them masters of their craft.

So much so that they were awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Plymouth in 2015.

Perhaps more notably, they were voted the greatest Devonians of all time, ahead of Sir Francis Drake, Charles Babbage, Chris Martin and many others – which they seem to relish all the more.

Steve Knightley Pic: Richard Markham
Steve Knightley Pic: Richard Markham

Knightley’s powerfully written songs are steeped with empathy and compassion for the lives of their ‘everyman’ characters. From the eponymous Cousin Jack, a poetic celebration of the lives of miners, which first appeared on 1997’s Dark Fields; to 2003’s Hard Shoulder, written for former band mates, fallen on hard times.

Phil Beer Pic: Richard Markham
Phil Beer Pic: Richard Markham

Beer’s incredible musicianship sees him play an array of stringed instruments, from the fiddle to the cuatro and everything in between!

Each performed with virtuosic control and musicality, every moment a means of communicating something felt deeply within.

Both equally accomplished as solo artists, as they are a band, Show of Hands are truly remarkable.

Their Full Circle Tour (which does come through Marlborough on April 12) is an ingenious celebration of one’s roots, proving that faith in humanity and passion for one’s craft will always thrive.

For one night, they turned an intimate community venue into a world-class concert hall.

Congratulations to everyone who made this such a success.



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