Known for their songs with rousing choruses that address contemporary social issues,[1] (notably their "singalong attack on the bankers," Arrogance Ignorance and Greed)[2] these often illustrate current concerns through historical narratives[3] and have earned Knightley the label the 'Gravel voiced spokesman of the rural poor'.

[7] 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.

[10] Show of Hands have received widespread critical acclaim over their 30 album (and continuing) career,[1] 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.

[1] 1980s: The beginning Offered a gig at the Wimborne Festival in 1986, Steve Knightley called on his old friends Warwick Downes (double bass) and Martin Bradley (concertina) to join him.

This he later performed on Richard Digance's Capital Radio show,[14] with his then neighbour, the actor Jim Carter (who plays Mr Carson in Downton Abbey) reading the opening poem, 'The Wrecker's Prayer'.

Here, in January 1987, following their fateful Wimborne Festival meeting, Beer and Knightley set up in a studio above the garage to record the songs that as Show of Hands they were now honing live.

Here in the dockers' and bikers' pubs Show of Hands learnt how to successfully compete with the darts and the TV to grow a loyal audience beyond their usual folk crowd.

Released in February, the album featured a large line-up of guest musicians, including a rhythm section that the prevailing wisdom deemed necessary for a more radio friendly sound.

[32] As the band continued to build up their grass-roots fan base and growing a mailing list that received news of their forthcoming gigs, their 'cottage industry' approach began to pay off.

Later, after a crash course to learn all things internet, O’Farrell set up the band’s website, made Show of Hands' music and footage freely available and gave downloading a hearty thumbs up.

He would focus on the agency side of the business, whilst his wife Gwen, a former major record company executive, would soon join him to run the Hands On Music label.

[34] International gigs Throughout the 1990s the duo performed in Australia, Hong Kong, the US, Canada, Indonesia and India – experiences that opened their ears to yet more instrumental textures and songwriting themes.

[37][38] Mojo said the album created "a powerful, fresh sounding music with both integrity and widespread appeal" whilst The Telegraph was moved to mention Show of Hands' "formidable partnership".

[39] Lie of the Land's album cover by Rob O’Connor beautifully underpinned the band’s connection with their rural roots whilst setting the bar high for the look of the growing Show of Hands 'brand'.

Selling out the Royal Albert Hall Despite their increasing critical acclaim and burgeoning fan base, in the mid-1990s Show of Hands were finding gigs in the capital hard to come by.

With the help of software designer Richard Patterson and festival organiser Steve Heap their solution was to book the Royal Albert Hall for a gig on 24 March 1996.

Guests have included established names such as Ralph McTell, Johnnie Jones, Tom Robinson, Martyn Joseph and American singer-songwriter, Richard Shindell.

[38] The Albert Hall shows have also given a platform to newcomers such as Jackie Oates, Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin, Jenna Witts and in 2001, making their first major public appearance, Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends.

Both separately and as Show of Hands Knightley and Beer continue to mentor and give touring opportunities to new artists, including Seth Lakeman, Jenna Witts, Jackie Oates, Megan Henwood, India Electric Company, Jim Causley, and Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin.

It featured songs by Knightley rooted in the area, including the notable Cornish diaspora anthem Cousin Jack – an 'instant classic'[48] that is now taught in schools throughout the Duchy and remains a popular live number.

That year also saw the debut of the band’s annual Abbotsbury Festival, a day featuring performances by Show of Hands and illustrious guest artists in the Dorset town's lush Sub-Tropical Garden.

Celebrating the silver jubilee of The South West Path, all the tracks are inspired by and relate to specific places along the famous coastal trail, creating an atmospheric musical portrait of each location.

As for the songwriting itself, Knightley sees his output as broadly falling into four categories, "the emotional landscape American singer-songwriter approach, the up-tempo Irishy thing, the rural storytelling ballads and the big, angry, shouty sort of songs".

Voted 'Greatest Ever Devonians' in a 2006 competition run by Devon County Council, Show of Hands beat Sir Francis Drake, Agatha Christie, Captain Scott, Muse and Chris Martin amongst others to the title.

Whilst warmly embracing the sensual African rhythms and the world and ambient music influences of the producers, Show of Hands' sound remains unmistakably their own.

[71] Beer and Knightley forced the BNP to stop using the track and helped to launch "Folk Against Fascism", giving "Roots" to the movement's eponymous 2010 double album.

The accompanying guerrilla-filmed video features huge images of Beer, Knightley and Sykes performing the song projected high onto the edifices of the city's banks whilst monkey-masked graffiti artists work Banksy style below.

Whilst AIG garnered mainstream success, Show of Hands' core fans found they missed the familiar smooth production and the subtle metaphors with contemporary meaning in Knightley’s historical narratives.

Their flexibility in playing live enables them to respond easily to requests for gigs 'in support of...' and Show of Hands have raised money for local causes, such as keeping a rural post-office open, as well as global issues, including those relating to education and health.

[84][85] Autumn 2017 saw the band starting work on their latest studio album Joint Venture and continuing to explore new sonic landscapes in their ongoing musical collaborations.