Show of Hands hit the festival trail

By Nadine Bateman, Portsmouth today, 29 July 2008

They've been described by Peter Gabriel as 'one of the great English bands', and Jools Holland says their music is 'wonderful'.

Devon's Show of Hands – widely recognised as the finest acoustic roots duo in England – set off early on their UK festival season this year, and will have notched up appearances at no less than 26 events by the time the summer's over.

Just days after completing their UK spring tour singer songwriter Steve Knightley and multi instrumentalist Phil Beer headed to Kent for the Sweeps Festival in May - the first of a summer full of performances that ends at St Ives Festival in Cornwall on September 14.

As well as returning to favourite flagship festivals such as Trowbridge, Fylde, Sidmouth and Towersey they will make their debut at 14 others, including WOMAD last weekend.