ENGLAND?s most successful acoustic duo Show of Hands will be bringing their Country Life ? Up Close tour to the Plough Arts Centre, Torrington on Wednesday, April 7.
The dynamic combination of original material and potent delivery saw Phil Beer and Steve Knightly voted as both Best Group and Best Live Act at the Radio 2 Folk Awards 2004.
The widespread appeal of Show of Hands is based on the winning blend of Steve?s songs and windblown vocals, and the quality of their harmonies coupled to an impressive multi-instrumental virtuosity.
It is hard to believe such a full sound can be achieved by two performers. Phil and Steve are both Devon-based, having met as teenagers while playing in different bands before, for a while, going their separate ways.
As well as being part of Show of Hands they both have successful musical careers in their own right. Phil is much in demand as a session musician and Steve was invited by Mick Jagger to work on the recording of the album ?Goddess In The Doorway.?
Their most recent CD ?Country Life? is the duo?s best yet with its gritty realism in numbers such as the title track ?Country Life?, ?Tommy? and ?Red Diesel?. By contrast Steve gives us gentler fare with the lilting ?Seven Days? and ?I Promise You?, but you sense he has promised himself that while these are love songs they will never fall into the abyss of saccharine sentiment.
ROGER MALONE