Reviews
Artists: Steve Knightley + Jim Causley
Venue: Bournemouth Folk Club
Town: Bournemouth
Date: 5th February
Website:
http://www.showofhands.co.uk
Leaving aside the songwriting, musicianship and genuine raconteur nature, there's something about Steve Knightley that sets him apart from a lot of his peers, the way he uses the artist that accompanies him on his solo tours.
I say accompanies, rather than support, because Knightley forsakes the traditional, support slot then main slot format, preferring to throw the artist into both of the two sets he performs during the evening. Sometimes they perform as a duo, sometimes he leaves the stage and lets them get on with it.
Normally of his solo tours he takes another artist from Devon with him and this year, it's Jim Causley that he's sharing the stage with. Jim is a fantastic vocalist, no mean accordion play and, like Steve, a bit of a raconteur, this trip to Bournemouth Folk Club looks like it's going to be something very special indeed.
I'm not disappointed, Steve Knightley is an accomplished performer, who just happens to be touring a live album, "Live In Somerset" on this tour. We're on the east of the West Country, but Steve knows the local towns and villages and his songs well enough to know when he can slip a local reference of two in along the way. That is when he's not getting a verse of two in the wrong order, something Causley manages as well.
Like Steve, Jim has a new album, "Dumnonia" to tout and they both try to out do each other on subtle and, to be honest, blatent plugs for the material, all in the best possible taste, unlike some of the innuendo laden songs.
Between the two of them they run through some great songs and tales and in the case of the "Snow White" variant from Jim, nursery stories. They are both capable of bringing both tears of laughter and sorrow to the eye.
Steve jokes that he sings songs of the land, the sea and the downright miserable and he's not far wrong, but he also sings songs about things that matter, one of the themes that runs through his material and his banter is a strong sense of justice, a sense of people doing right by people.
You never know exactly what an audience with Steve Knightly will bring, well except entertainment. Steve seems to thrive at Bournemouth Folk Club and gave praise to the organisers.
It was a great night for everyone. After the set Steve had to drive up to London as Show Of Hands were performing on the Andrew Marr Show oh to sing "Arrogance Ignorance & Greed" at William Hague.
Neil King