Steve Knightley (born 1954) is an English singer, songwriter and acoustic musician. Since 1992 he has been one half of folk/roots duo Show of Hands along with Phil Beer. Knightley was named "Songwriter of the Nineties" by BBC Radio 6 Music in 2012.

Career

At fourteen Knightley began playing acoustic guitar at Exmouth Grammar School. It was there he met long-time friend and musical collaborator Paul Downes. Knightley was attracted to folk music after hearing his older step-brother's Joan Baez records. Together with Downes they began playing songs from the Penguin Book of English Folk Songs. They were also drawn to the repertoire of Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick after seeing them in concert at the Sidmouth Folk Festival. In 1970 they formed the trio 'Gawain' and, along with fiddler John 'Bat' Evans, were regulars on the thriving Devon folk scene for three years or so, meeting Phil Beer in the process. Downes then left for Brighton where he formed a professional partnership with Beer, touring for the next seven years. to commemorate "great distinction in [their] professional lives".

Other

Knightley is Patron of Shrewsbury Folk Festival, Sidmouth Folk Week, St Ives Festival, and the Village Pump folk festival. In 2012, he was named "Songwriter of the Nineties" by Tom Robinson for BBC Radio 6 Music.

Discography

  • Track of Words (1999)
  • Faith, Folk and Anarchy (with Martyn Joseph and Tom Robinson) (2002)
  • Western Approaches (with Seth Lakeman and Jenna Witts) (2004)
  • Bridgerow Sessions (with Martyn Joseph) (2005)
  • Cruel River (2007)
  • Track of Words – Retraced (2009)
  • Live in Somerset (2011)
  • Off the beaten track (2014)
  • All at Sea (2016)
  • Roadworks Songs and Stories Part II (2019)
  • The Winter Yards (2024)
  • Positively Folk Street (2025)

Alianza

  • Alianza (1992)

Show of Hands

  • See Show of Hands

References

  • Show Of Hands Official Website