Following the release of their acclaimed tenth studio album Country Life in 2003, which itself was promoted by a tour, the duo were named the "Best Live Act" at the 2004 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

The title track, a "stirring" and "finely honed rant about the desecration of British country life"[2] and "an acerbic indictment of modern values",[3] brought the band renewed attention.

Of the duo's first three live albums, only the last of them, Cold Cuts (2002), was not based around a single concert, instead being a compilation of performances throughout the tour.

[8] The album contains twenty-two tracks and was the duo's first collaboration with their long time unofficial "third member" Miranda Sykes, who plays double bass and sings.

[6] Jenna, who Knightley had recorded the album Western Approaches with earlier in the year, features on vocals and keyboard on "Smile She Said" and "Crooked Man".

[1] Knightley's composition "The Train", which had originally featured on Dark Fields (1997), was presented in its fourth version as a medley with "Santiago" and "The Soldier's Joy.

[9] It was originally only sold at the duo's live performances and on their website,[1] being intended as a "souvenir recording" solely for the fans attending the concerts.

[10] Nonetheless, that the album was well received meant that the duo re-released it for a conventional commercial release, and has since "become an important part of the Show of Hands catalogue.

Calling it a "handsome release", David Kidman of NetRhythms was very favourable, saying that "Steve and Phil sure have put this release together with care, respectful of their fans and the pleasure it will give them; they've painstakingly listened to recordings made on the tour, and chosen what they consider to be the very best of the performances for inclusion on this set, which is intended as a permanent memento of a landmark tour even by the lads' own exacting standards.