Show Of Hands

High Germany - 900 Miles To Bremen

  • 3CD
  • Date : 24.06.2022
  • Package : CD Jewel Case Box
  • Running Time CD 1 : 79:39
  • Running Time CD 2 : 47:05
  • Running Time CD 3 : 57:55

Show Of Hands – High Germany – 900 Miles To Bremen

Show Of Hands are at the forefront of the UK folk/roots scene by virtue of hard work, consistent touring and memorable songwriting. That their popularity reaches far beyond their native shores is hardly surprising for this is an act that tries its utmost to make every single gig a truly special event lingering long in the memory of those attending. The story of Show Of Hands is really the story of two Exeter (Devon) teenagers, Steve Knightley and Phil Beer, though for a time they followed separate paths.

 

Yet the duo that would form the core of Show Of Hands, singer-songwriter Steve Knightley on vocals, guitars, mandolin and mandocello, and multi-instrumentalist Phil Beer on vocals, guitars, violin, viola, mandolin and mandocello, only came together properly in 1986. Years of grafting on the music circuit in the late 80s and early 90s followed, which saw them performing at rock-, biker- and Irish-themed pubs (plus almost every folk club located in the British Isles).

 

Their ambitious approach and commensurate efforts to avoid becoming trapped (or the perception thereof) in a folk music ‘ghetto’ saw them rather bravely book – and duly sell out – London’s prestigious, iconic Royal Albert Hall in 1996, and then go on to repeat the feat again, several times, including their triumphant twenty-fifth anniversary show in April 2017.

 

Show Of Hands expanded to a trio, encompassing long-serving bassist Miranda Sykes. With nineteen studio albums, five live releases (not including “High Germany – 900 Miles To Bremen”) and five Best Of… albums under their belts, Show Of Hands certainly have an impressive catalogue of material to choose from when performing live. “The High Germany – 900 Miles To Bremen” recordings (from 1997 and 2005) highlight the quality of that back catalogue and the powerful, charismatic qualities of the duo/trio in full flow.

 

Tracklist:

CD 1 - Live @ Moments, Bremen 5th Oct. 1997

  1. Medley: Man Of War –The Well - The Oak 10:10
  2. Don't It Feel Good 05:58
  3. The Red Rose Of England 00:53
  4. Crow On The Cradle 04:39
  5. Cars 04:59
  6. Medley: Plum Pudding –Rocky Road To Chudleigh 03:49
  7. Armadas 07:27
  8. Longdog 04:28
  9. Crazy Boy 05:33
  10. Exile 07:33
  11. Corinna, Corinna 03:17
  12. The Blind Fiddler 05:34
  13. The Train 03:48
  14. 900 Miles 05:58
  15. High Germany 05:33

CD1 Total: 79:39 min

CD 2 - Live @ Sendesaal Radio Bremen, 26th Sept. 2005

  1. Don't It Feel Good 05:13
  2. Red Diesel 04:26
  3. Reynardine 05:16
  4. Undertow 05:36
  5. Medley: Lumps Of Plum Pudding –Leaving of Wessex 01:59
  6. Crow On The Cradle 06:59
  7. The Blind Fiddler 02:17
  8. Galway Farmer 04:57
  9. The Oak 04:51
  10. I Promise You 05:31

CD2 Total: 47:05 min

CD 3 - Live @ Sendesaal Radio Bremen, 26th Sept. 2005

  1. The Dive 07:40
  2. When You Think It's All Over 04:04
  3. Country Life 06:23
  4. Adieu, Sweet Lovely Nancy 06:44
  5. Cousin Jack 07:47
  6. Medley: The Train - Santiago - The Soldiers Joy 14:45
  7. Medley: The Setting - Mary From Dungloe 05:42
  8. Roots 04:50

CD3 Total: 57:55 min

Total: 184:39 min