STEVE KNIGHTLEY is a seasoned traveller and widely experienced individual who as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has played his music on all four continents.Steve began performing at 15 playing guitar and mandolin with an instinctive understanding of acoustic music born out of his immersion in both the traditional music of the British Isles and the narrative songs of Bob Dylan. With a degree in Politics and a post graduate certificate in education, Steve moved to London in the eighties and became part of the rock music scene. Subsequently returning to the West Country he met up with school friend PHIL BEER to form ‘SHOW OF HANDS’. Together they have become Europe’s foremost acoustic duo, selling out venues from Calgary to Perth and managing to fill the ROYAL ALBERT HALL - on two occasions - in between! His songs are firmly based on a connection to the countryside and draw upon his West Country heritage to tell stories of those who work on the land and sea. Other songwriters may have passed this way, but in an era of bland globalisation Steve is unique in his ability to present a view of his local world and have his audience (no matter where they are) completely understand and relate to it . Show Of Hands' "Lie Of The Land" was Q MAGAZINE'S FOLK ALBUM OF THE YEAR in 1996.("A powerful, fresh sounding music with both integrity and widespread appeal" Mojo)

Steve Knightley web site
http://www.steveknightley.co.uk