Fans of Show of Hands, the Devon based English folk band consisting of Steve Knightley and Phil Beer along with Miranda Sykes on double bass and harmonies will have no doubt missed seeing the band after they all took time out to pursue individual projects. But the good news is they are back in the Autumn (details below), here’s what they’ve all been up to:
Steve Knightley, the Show of Hands frontman, has been touring hard taking his solo show to village halls all over the country. He has a whole host of dates still to come so make sure you check those dates as he is bound to be coming to a Village Hall near you, head here to the Grow Your Own Gig Website for details. Hopefully this sort of project will encourage others to use their Village Halls for such events as you can bet your bottom dollar they’ll be sold off like everything else if we don’t utilise them. Here’s a video Steve put together to give you a flavour of what’s it all about and also some good tips on how to set up for such a gig:
Phil Beer has also been busy touring both solo and with his band. Alongside this he has been spending time on his Folk Boat Project. You can read more about this via Johnny’s recent review for Folk Radio UK here. Here’s a video about the first Folk Boat voyage which Johnny was on board for:
And of course that leaves Miranda Sykes who has been busy in her duo with mandolin wizard Rex Preston. Miranda and Rex have a number of tour dates this month which you can find here.
With all of this on I’m amazed they find time for anything else but they have, earlier this month we told you about a new album: Centenary: Words & Music of The Great War on which Show of Hands have teamed up with two very popular British actors Jim Carter and his wife Imelda Staunton to mark the centenary of the First World War through music and spoken word.
And finally…they have announced that they are back on the road with their Autumn Concert Tour which will feature a full evening of Show of Hands with Miranda Sykes (two sets and no support). Hopefully this will make up for those that have missed one of our most popular English folk bands performing together.
Concert Tour Autumn 2014
15/10 – IPSWICH, Corn Exchange
16/10 – NORWICH, Open
17/10 – HIGH WYCOMBE, Wycombe Swan Theatre
18/10 – BURY, Castle Armoury Drill Hall
22/10 – TUNBRIDGE WELLS, Assembly Hall Theatre
23/10 – ST ALBANS, The Alban Arena
24/10 – BUXTON Buxton, Opera House
25/10 – GATESHEAD, Sage Gateshead
05/11 – CHELTENHAM, Cheltenham Town Hall
06/11 – BIRMINGHAM, Town Hall
07/11 – HAYES, Beck Theatre
08/11 – POOLE, Lighthouse
12/11 – LONDON, Cadogan Hall
13/11 – HARROGATE, Royal Hall
14/11 – LIVERPOOL, St George’s Hall
15/11 – SHEFFIELD, City Hall Ballroom
19/11 – DARTFORD, The Orchard Theatre
20/11 – CARDIFF, St David’s Hall
21/11 – CREWE, Lyceum Theatre
22/11 – SHREWSBURY, Theatre Severn
26/11 – SALISBURY, City Hall
27/11 – YEOVIL, The Octagon Theatre
28/11 – BASINGSTOKE, The Anvil
29/11 – BARNSTAPLE, The Queen’s Theatre
02/12 – ST IVES, The Guildhall
04/12 – WORTHING, The Pavilion Theatre
05/12 – EXMOUTH, Exmouth Pavilion
06/12 – EXMOUTH, Exmouth Pavilion
Head here for full details and ticket links: http://www.showofhands.co.uk