A VERY special Christmas show is coming to Bridport next weekend.

A Show of Hands Christmas special will be performed at Bridport Electric Palace on Saturday, December 21 from 8pm.

Fans will rejoice as Steve Knightley and Phil Beer, two undisputed kings of the folk, roots and acoustic scene reunite with long-term collaborator Miranda Sykes for this tour. They have also produced a new album.

The trio is expanding to include master percussionist Cormac Byrne who returns with his infectious rhythms by popular demand.

With new songs, new sounds, heartbeats and harmonies, the quartet’s first secret gig last year at The Electric Palace sold out overnight.

Show of Hands have unequivocally become one of the leading forces in British folk. Steve Knightley and Phil Beer are respectively recognised as one of the UK’s best singer songwriters and one of its finest multi instrumentalists. Without frills or fanfares they have carved a unique niche built on a carefully constructed cottage industry and become one of the most in-demand bands on the circuit.

An alchemist couldn’t have come up with a more potent, magical mix than that of Phil Beer, who can, as The Scotsman observed, “play nearly every stringed instrument known to man” and the inspired Steve Knightley, described by broadcaster Mike Harding as “one of England’s greatest singer songwriters”.

In 2004, after numerous nominations, Show of Hands struck gold at the BBC Folk Awards, winning the coveted Best Live Act title – the only category voted for by the public. They were joined by Miranda Sykes on double bass and vocals for their autumn 2004 UK tour – a tour that triggered a live 22-track double album As You Were. Miranda has been adding another dimension to the Show of Hands sound ever since.

*Show of Hands Christmas Special, Bridport Electric Palace, Saturday, December 21. Call the box office for tickets.