Show Of Hands
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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, (notably their "singalong attack on the bankers," Arrogance Ignorance and Greed) these often illustrate current concerns through historical narratives and have earned Knightley the label the 'Gravel voiced spokesman of the rural poor'. 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. 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," where, as Robin Denselow writes in the Guardian, "Beer and Knightley have become folk heroes".
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. Their "much vaunted cottage industry," 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 to create a completely self-contained way of working. This included their record label and production company Hands On Music, that gave them control of their consistently 'classy' output.
Show of Hands have received widespread critical acclaim over their 30 album (and continuing) career, 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.
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Roots 2 - 2023-11-06 00:00:00
- The Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear in Smoke) - Single Version;2011 Remaster - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Restrictions - Gene Paul & Jackson Howe Remix - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Second Coming - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Poem 58 - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Hymn 43 - Remix - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Dark Star - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Soon Soon Soon - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Bad 'N' Ruin - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Push a Little - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Springtime In the City - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- South Side of the Sky - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Crystal Liaison - 2006 Promo Version;Remastered - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Loose - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Tinker Taylor - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Cold, Cold, Cold - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Freely Away - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Then I Must Go and Can I Keep - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- I'm on the Lamb - 1970 Version - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- The Floppy Boot Stomp - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Freedom Fighters - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Concerto Grosso N. 1 - I Tempo: Allegro - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Flames - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Understand a Woman - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Sun Sing - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Train Round the Bend - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Suppose They Give a War and No One Comes - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Rockin' Fish - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Nature Boy - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Kites (Stereo) - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Every Raindrop Means a Lot - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- The Kid Was a Killer - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- (No More) Mr. Nice Guys - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Auroville - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- No Need to Worry - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Turn the Boy Loose - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Need Love - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- The Band Plays On - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Feel So Bad - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Bedtime Bone - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Nobody's Talking - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Rainbow Life - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Flashing Lights - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Barricades - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- The Watcher - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Why - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Off the Hook - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- World of You - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- The Human Being Lawnmower - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Breakaway - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
- Mr. Man - Heavy Psych, Prog, Fuzz & Blues 101 - Show Of Hands
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