SHOW of Hands did not disappoint the capacity crowd that filled Ludlow Assembly Rooms on Sunday evening in the rain.

Having spent the previous five days in Wales, I guess the guys were used to the inclement weather - this was the last night of the first leg of their autumn touring schedule, which includes Cheltenham (November 7) and Monmouth (December 1).

The duo are touring with Miranda Sykes on double bass, and special guests Martyn Joseph and Matt Clifford appeared with them in Ludlow.

The arrangements and settings were especially pleasing and although the protest songs of Martyn Joseph were not music to my ears, the audience as a whole were obviously more attuned, judging by the online message board feedback.

The music came mainly from this year's album, Witness, with a few favourites snuck in there for good measure - Columbus Didn't Find America, The Blue Cockade and Cousin Jack.

Phil Beer's fiddle playing was up to its usual spellbinding standard, with a beautiful rendition of The Hollies Bus Stop part-way through.

Miranda Sykes also proved she is much more than a double bass player with a characteristically mellifluous solo, Stonewashed Jeans. Love the guys as I do, they should hang on to her for as long as they can.

Concluding with the trademark medley, A Wrecker's Prayer, Tall Ships and a Sea Shanty, the Devonian duo proved again that they just get finer with age.

Show of Hands are gearing up for their second Royal Albert Hall gig on April 8, while Phil Beer is appearing at Hereford Courtyard on May 3.

Julie Harries