Steve Knightley to take stage for Abbotsbury extravaganza (From Dorset Echo)

Steve Knightley to take stage for Abbotsbury extravaganza

9:56am Monday 29th June 2009 in

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THE annual Abbotsbury extravaganza starring Show of Hands and friends will be missing a vital component this year.

For the first time in the show’s 12-year history Phil Beer will be absent, fulfilling a lifetime dream of crewing in the Tall Ships Race.

So while Steve Knightley is left to keep the Dorset date afloat on Saturday, July 4, Phil will be somewhere in the Baltic on the good ship Pegasus.

Steve, who has twice been nominated in the Best Original Song category at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, will spearhead more than six hours of non-stop, open-air entertainment on Abbotsbury’s West Lawn. He’ll be ably aided and abetted by award-winning Welsh singer songwriter Martyn Joseph, and young North Devon songstress Jenna, two of his recent touring partners. Steve produced Jenna’s debut album Barefoot And Eager and collaborated with Martyn on The Bridgerow Sessions.

Other musicians performing during the afternoon and evening are Mawkin: Causley – the Essex ‘lad band’ fused with stand-out singer and frontman Jim Causley and Miranda Sykes.

Cornwall’s Fishermen’s Friends will also make an appearance.

The members of this band all have connections to the sea as fishermen, lifeboatmen, coastguard and cliff rescue staff or boatyard workers. A few years ago they started singing at Port Isaac harbour and have since performed at many festivals, including with Show of Hands at the Royal Albert Hall.

The event starts at 3pm and tickets are available on 01305 871130, costing £20 for adults, £10 for children and £48 for a family of two adults and up to three children.

Concert-goers are invited to bring low-backed seating, rugs and picnics into the grounds from 1.30pm. For the youngsters, there will also be a children’s entertainer and face-painters.

For further details, visit abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk or email info@abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk