Reviews
Artists: Steve Knightley + Jenna
Venue: Bournemouth Folk Club
Town: Bournemouth
Date: 13th February
Website:
http://www.showofhands.co.uk
One of the things I love about folk music is the way it's top names keep in touch with their roots, playing the clubs as well as the big halls and theatres. Saturday the 13th at Bournemouth Folk Club was one of those nights with Show Of Hands' Steve Knightley gracing the stage together with rising star, Jenna, arguably playing Cathy to his Heathcliff.
It's not a conventional support type slot for Jenna as people that have seen them tour before will know. The performance comes in two halves with both artists contributing to each half, both as solo artist and as part of a duo. It gives the performance a more conventional set up would lack. Whilst they've toured together before, this tour sees Jenna really starting to spread her wings and take the step up having an album of her own "Brother" to promote.
I was only half joking when I made the reference to Heathcliff in the introduction. Knightley is a brooding figure on stage, fanatically passionate about his music, often music tinged with darkness. The dark under belly of humanity has been a common theme in his songs, balanced out with the occasional song that gives praise to the human spirit and emotions. It was after one of the more uplifting ones that Steve updated the audience with news of his son, making good progress in his recovery from serious illness.
More recently that writing talent has noticeably ramped up the political songs a notch. With a sparkle in his eye, he mentioned getting a Radio Two Folk Award for "Arrogance Ignorance Greed", a song that shares its initials for failed US insurance house AIG and with good reason. It obviously irks the injustice of bailing out the finances houses when manufacturing were allowed to go to the wall.
Another theme that got an airing was the subject of Englishness, the right to be proud of our heritage, both musical and arts as well as more generally, without it being drawn into nationalist bollocks. The Celts can do it, Steve lamented a recent Burns Night supper, not the supper, but that there is no longer an English equivalent that he could offer to return the invite.
You don't get to where Steve Knightley is without picking up a few stories along the way. Many of these feature his absent Show Of Hands partner Phil Beer, giving him a spirit in the proceedings if not a body. Definitely there in body was Jenna, contributing a second voice as well as keyboards, and guitar for one of her solo slots.
Jenna came to Steve's attention following a bowls game between Steve's mum and, I think I'm right in recalling, Jenna's Gran, a very Devon place to have a conversation, given the role bowls plays in the county's history. Its connection to the sea came up in a number of songs, both from Jenna and Steve.
Bournemouth Folk Club gets an atmosphere going and Steve's connections to Dorset with old friends in the room lead to a really relaxed performance, including sing-a-longs and some good natured banter, all of which go a long way towards imprinting a really memorable night into the minds of those there to enjoy it, it was the most packed I've seen the club in my many visits.
There was a lot to appreciate on the night. For the wordsmiths there was great narrative, for the passionate there was the emotion, the performance, the banter, it was one of those gigs that had it all. Jenna showed that she's more than promise, Steve Knightley that he's still the master.