Show of Hands

This article is about the band. For other uses, see Show of hands.

Show of Hands
Show of Hands performing at Harberton, Devon in 2009 (photo: Brian Marks)
Show of Hands performing at Harberton, Devon in 2009 (photo: Brian Marks)
Background information
OriginDevon, England
GenresRoots, folk, acoustic
Years active1987–present
LabelsHands On
MembersSteve Knightley
Phil Beer
Miranda Sykes
Cormac Byrne
Websiteshowofhands.co.uk

Show of Hands is an English acoustic roots/folk duo formed in 1986 by singer-songwriter Steve Knightley (guitars, mandolin, mandocello, cuatro) and composer and multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer (vocals, guitars, violin, viola, mandolin, mandocello). Joined by singer and double-bassist Miranda Sykes for a tour in 2004, Show of Hands continued to regularly perform as a trio with Sykes, as well as in their original format. The line-up was further expanded in 2019 by the addition of Irish percussionist Cormac Byrne.

Known for their songs with rousing choruses that address contemporary social issues,[1] (notably their "singalong attack on the bankers," Arrogance Ignorance and Greed)[2] these often illustrate current concerns through historical narratives[3] and have earned Knightley the label the 'Gravel voiced spokesman of the rural poor'.[4] Rooted in English traditional music the songs are shot through with diverse influences from music across the world, including the blues, Americana, and Latin rhythms.[1][5] Nominating Knightley as 'songwriter of the '90s,' Tom Robinson of BBC Radio 6 noted that the songs spring from "the soil of the West Country,"[6] where, as Robin Denselow writes in the Guardian, "Beer and Knightley have become folk heroes".[7]

Widely recognised as pioneers in the folk/roots arena, both for their enduring emphasis on stagecraft and their radical business model, Show of Hands are noted for the high level of professionalism they bring to their performances, whether in a small club or the Royal Albert Hall.[1] Their "much vaunted cottage industry,"[1] set up Show of Hands as an independent concern before the internet made this common practice. Beer and Knightley, with their then manager, Gerard O'Farrell, built on their close relationship with their growing and "devoted" fanbase[8] to create a completely self-contained way of working.[9] This included their record label and production company Hands On Music, that gave them control of their consistently 'classy' output.[10]

Show of Hands have received widespread critical acclaim over their 30 album (and continuing) career,[1] and in 2006 were voted "Greatest Devonians Ever" in a poll run by Devon Country Council beating Sir Francis Drake, Agatha Christie and Chris Martin amongst others to the title.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d e f {fRoots magazine Dec 2016. issue 402}
  2. ^ {Robin Denselow, The Guardian, 17 April 2017}
  3. ^ {No Secrets, A Visual History of Show of Hands pp.146–157 ISBN 978-1-91137401-5}
  4. ^ (The Times} Nicky Findlay, Daily Echo 12 January 2017
  5. ^ {Martin Chilton, The Daily Telegraph, 16 October 2012}
  6. ^ "STEVE KNIGHTLEY named "Songwriter of the Nineties" (BBC6 Music) - World Music". Worldmusic.co.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  7. ^ {Robin Denselow, The Guardian, 14 January 2016}
  8. ^ {Robin Denselow, The Guardian, 8 April 2012}
  9. ^ {No Secrets A Visual History of Show of Hands pp. 61–67 ISBN 978-1-91137401-5}
  10. ^ {Martin Chilton, The Daily Telegraph, 16 October 2012} [full citation needed]