STELLAR LINE UP FOR SHOW OF HANDS SUMMER FESTIVAL Tickets for Show of Hands hugely popular annual summer family concert on the Dorset heritage coast will go on sale next Monday (March 3). Singer songwriter Steve Knightley and multi instrumentalist Phil Beer’s 2008 signature festival at Abbotsbury’s glorious sub- tropical gardens, near Weymouth, will take place on Saturday, July 5 – fielding one of the finest line ups ever. This year’s event will see the duo (joined by their regular double bassist and vocalist Miranda Sykes) spearheading over six hours of non-stop open-air entertainment on Abbotsbury’s West Lawn. See http://abbotsburytourism.co.uk/garden/tg0010.htm The Devon duo are delighted to announce their special guests will include one of the world’s leading acoustic finger-style and slide guitarists, Martin Simpson, winner of Best Album and Best Original Song at the 2008 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Also coming to the alfresco Abbotsbury stage will be one of the most unusual and captivating young singer songwriters on the UK roots scene – Martha Tilston (whose style was recently dubbed “Rococo Folk”) and her band The Woods while reprising their guest appearance at last Easter’s sell out Show of Hands gig at the Royal Albert Hall will be the brilliant Cornish choir Fishermen’s Friends, from Port Isaac. One more act is still to be announced to complete the line-up. Abbotsbury artists official websites: www.showofhands.co.uk www.martinsimpson.com www.marthatilston.co.uk Fishermen’s Friends In the midst of a hectic festivals schedule which this year includes appearances at WOMAD, Wickham and the Welsh Proms this will be a “local” gig for Show of Hands and an old stamping ground for Knightley, who used to live near Bridport. The event will start at 3pm. Tickets are available on 01305-871130, price £20 (adults); £10 (children) or £48 for a family (two adults and up to three children). Further information on www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk or email [email protected] Please note this booking number is available Monday-Friday, 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm but not weekends. Concertgoers are invited to bring low-backed seating, rugs and picnics into the grounds - entry to the West Lawn area is from 1.30pm. The grounds open at 10am for those interested in looking round the magnificent 20-acre gardens. For the youngsters, there will also be a children’s entertainer and face painters. .