Review from East Grinstead Courier & Observer

There are few things more predictable than the smug, self-contented look of a promoter after a Show of Hands gig. I've seen it many times and Martin, the promoter of Acoustic Sussex, could take the biscuit.

Promoting is fraught with the unforeseen. You can't always please everyone but by booking Show of Hands you can certainly minimise the risks.

Shows of Hands, who are Phil Beer, Steve Knightley and Miranda Sykes, always put on an astonishingly good show. You don't have to be a slave to a particular genre to appreciate their music.

There is something for everyone; traditional fiddlededee folk tunes, songs by some of the greats such as Billy Joel, Peter Gabriel and Lowell George, great singalongs and raw pop tunes such as Knightley's own composition Are We Alright.

The band is currently trying out new songs for its forthcoming album which is due in the autumn. Audiences have been treated to topical rants such as Arrogance, Ignorance and Greed (AIG) about bankers with their snouts in the trough.

I think this made some of the East Grinstead audience shuffle uncomfortably in their seats.

Napoli is about the residents of Dorset who turned into common scum when a container ship ran aground. It is subtitled Lyme Bay to Ebay.

Drift is Steve's personal account of the trials facing the loved ones of the long term sick.

And, joy of joys, the audience at Chequer Mead had the ultimate treat - a song performed for the very first time. Worried Well is a departure from their usual style but will soon be a firm audience favourite. It had the crowd stamping and clapping along after the first chorus.

This was, in fact, Mr Beer's penultimate performance as he is now participating in the Tall Ships Race. This band is so together and empathetic that he will have no difficulty picking up the instruments again in September as they prepare for a mammoth autumn tour of the county towns of England.

Martin, and Acoustic Sussex, has a full schedule with some fine live acts coming to Sussex in the coming months. Let us all hope that they get the support that they deserve in keeping live music available to us all. See www.acousticsussex.org.uk for all of the details

By John Grenfell