Venue:
Sidmouth Folk Festival
Date: 04/08/2024
Folkies on here will know that Steve Knightley and Phil Beer have decided to put Show of Hands to one side and to explore other projects for w while.
It has now emerged that Steve has been working on this particular idea for the past year after conversations at Costa Festival with Eliza Marshall, the flautist from Ranagri, and Bennet Cerven, the fiddle player from The Trouble Notes, who he encountered at Glastonbury. Johnny Kalsi and Steve have been friends and occasional collaborators for some years, so the band came together to explore some new musical landscapes.
As Steve puts it “I am incredibly excited to introduce Dream in Colours to music lovers worldwide. Our fusion of trance, rhythmic beats, and world music grooves creates a sonic tapestry that invites audiences to let loose, embrace the rhythms, and celebrate together. With the exceptional talents of Bennett, Eliza, and Johnny, we aim to transport listeners on a rhythmic journey that sparks joy and connection.”
I did wonder how the band would be received, particularly at Sidmouth Folk Festival, which is very much at the traditional end of the folk festival world and where Show of Hands have always been a main attraction, and are indeed patrons of the event. The main tent on the Ham was not quite full to capacity, although they certainly drew a big crowd.
They opened the set with a rollicking performance which set the tone for the whole evening – they obviously wanted to grab the audience from the first note and set out their stall. You immediately realise that you are in the presence of consummate musicians – they are just all terrific players and it works an absolute treat as you get swept along by the playing and energy. The extended instrumental breaks are the absolute highlight and the sound is absolutely spot on (not always the case in the Ham tent), and you just don’t want it to stop…and this raises an issue that I’m not sure how they will resolve.
Steve Knightley is a damn fine songwriter, and his new songs were great….but they sounded like Show of Hands type material to my ears. They did perform 3 SoH songs too (one sung by his daughter Elie), and I guess Steve wanted to show some links to his years with Phil, but they didn’t really work so well in the new setting and arrangements. Maybe it is because I am so familiar with them, but SoH would often rework songs very successfully in the past. They finished with The Galway Farmer, which was a bit of a misstep to my mind. As we came away, I said to my wife that they were terrific, but Steve didn’t really seem a good fit with the others – they really shone when he took a back seat and the others cut loose. Do they really need ‘songs’ at all..?
Anyone who enjoys, say, The Afro Celts or the Imagined Village, will love this band, and they are definitely well worth seeing. As they perform more and find their feet, I suspect they will iron out the wrinkles.
The audience:
Typical Sidmouth folkies…lots of beards and sandles.
It made me think..
just how good some musicians are that you have never heard of.
This sounds right up my (straw-strewn, possibly cobbled) street. Do they have anything out yet?
No recordings out yet, but an album is promised. There are a couple of audience videos on YouTube, which don’t really do them justice to be honest. They are a very loud band! I imagine they will do loads of festivals next year.
Just spotted this while Retro and I are sharing a whisky on the campsite. Come and join us!
Whisky at 6pm…! We were there for the afternoon and evening (we live in Exmouth), but will probably be back for Phil Beer and Paul Downes at lunchtime tomorrow. Leaving for Cropredy on Wednesday.
I’ll look out for you at Beer & Downes: what t shirt will you be wearing, @nigelt? Presumably not a Dream In Colours one at 30 quids….
Second time I’ve seen ‘em, and, even in a month, there were three new songs. I think they are fab. Not least as they lifted and reposted the entirety of my review (at New Forest) for their website, tart that I am.
£30 was definitely a deal breaker for me – taking the mick for sure. I will wear my Show of Hands Battlefield Dancefloor number I think. How about your good self? I have press pass tickets, so usually get in a bit before the hoi poloi and sit near the front on the right a couple of rows back.
I’ll have my blood red ØXN tee.
As an aside, @nigelt and myself duly mingling, both of us were struck by how happy seemed Phil Beer, much more so than when each had separately seen him in the Show of Hands farewell tour.
Funny that.
Good to meet up @retropath2 ! Had a quick word with Phil and Paul Downes after the gig and will be chatting with Phil soon about his plans etc.
The camerawork is slightly spoilt by people walking past.
But this clip does give an idea what the band sound and look like.