Event Phone: 0863389619

Steve Knightley (UK)

Sunday 03rd November 2024

Doors at 7pm;

Show at 8pm

Live at Jerry Moynihans,

Upper Gladstone St Clonmel

We are delighted to present one of Englands finest folk musicians and singers, who is on a very short Irish tour, including a gig at Sligo Live festival

Steve Knightley, a highly acclaimed singer-songwriter and founding member of ‘Show of Hands,’ is a prominent figure in English Folk/Acoustic music. Celebrated for his deep connection to the West Country, his extensive body of work, uniquely blends historical narratives with contemporary themes. In 1994 with multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer he formed ‘Show of Hands,’ praised by Peter Gabriel as one of the ‘Great English Bands.’ Knightley was born in Southampton in 1954 of English, Irish and Scottish descent.

Knightley’s prowess as a songwriter garnered significant recognition, earning him the title of Tom Robinson’s Songwriter of the 90s. With three BBC Folk Awards and six performances at the Royal Albert Hall, including his most recent in 2023, Knightley has firmly established his place in the music industry. Beyond the realm of music, he ventured into visual arts, serving as the artistic director of the ‘Shrouds of the Somme’ installation in 2016, a poignant commemoration of soldiers lost during the Battle of the Somme.

Knightley’s commitment to addressing social issues is evident in songs like ‘Country Life’ and ‘Arrogance, Ignorance and Greed,’ earning recognition at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. His impact extends beyond accolades, with compositions like ‘The Galway Farmer’ recognised as a ‘traditional’ Irish folk song, and ‘Cousin Jack’ now taught in Cornish schools. In 2014 he began the ground-breaking ‘Grow your Own Gig’ tour empowering local communities to host concerts without financial risk.

With more than 4,000 performances and over fifty appearances at Glastonbury, Knightley leaves an enduring impact on audiences worldwide.

REVIEWS:

‘A craftsman at the peak of his powers’ – Tony Hall former director general of the BBC

‘Some of the best songs written in the last twenty years’ – Mark Radcliffe

‘My favourite frontman’ – Fran Malyan former head of Sony Music Publishing

‘The gravel voiced spokesman of the rural poor’ – Robin Denselow The Guardian