By Giles Whiting

FOR more than two hours the mighty Show of Hands, featuring singer-songwriter front man Steve Knightley, virtuoso multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer and long-time ‘special guest’ of ten years, double bassist Miranda Sykes, showcased contrasting talents, dovetailing brilliantly.

Their strong original songs tackle some bleak subjects; in folk the body count is often high.

The opening ‘Haunt You’ was a chilling story of a spurned sailor’s revenge and set a high standard maintained in cherry-picked songs featuring agricultural villains, unrequited lovers and fearless seafarers, invariably set against a familiar West Country landscape, which were in turn reflective, engaging, inspiring and moving.

Knightley’s songs often hold up a mirror to modern life (Be Lucky, The Man and AIG) but others are drawn from the best folk traditions (The Blind Fiddler, Widecombe Fair, The Old Lych Way)

He commands the stage with his lyrical guitar and windswept vocals, but allows the unassuming Beer and his ‘diddly bits’ on fiddle, guitar, mandolin and banjo and Sykes’ bowed bass and exquisite, crystal-clear voice to have their moments in the solo spotlight.

Their live shows have always outshone their 20-plus recordings, particularly when Knightley ventures offstage unamplified.

The standout Country Life – his indictment of the causes and effects of social estrangement in rural England – and Santiago have even the ‘dragged-along folk’ joining in, while fan favourite ‘Cousin Jack’ is a fitting song with which to send a happy full house home humming.