Folk hero Steve Knightley, like many stars on the road to fame, took other jobs to subsidise his music.

Steve was a supply teacher in media studies, history and music, he ran a guest house with his first wife and gave private guitar lessons. His most notable student, who went on to become a known name in her own right, was Polly Harvey better known as PJ Harvey.

Today Steve is a folk rock veteran known as one half of Show of Hands with Phil Beer and as a solo artist or leader of his own bands.

The guitar man is a popular choice at the Marlborough Folk Roots concerts and is appearing again next week at a gig in the Kennet Valley Hall in Lockeridge, Marlborough.

Steve says that it was Bob Dylan and Joan Baez who first fanned the flames of his passion for folk music and before he was 14-years-old he had mastered the art of playing both guitar and mandolin.

As he grew up in Exeter he became much in demand around the folk clubs and it was during one of these sessions that he met fellow musician, the multi-instrumentalist Phil, who went on to become a life long friend and musical collaborator.

Steve had three bands of his own while working in London, Short Stories, The Cheats and Total Strangers. He moved to Dorset in 1985 and met up again with Phil, who was playing with the Albion Band at the time. In 1991 Steve and Phil formed Show of Hands and continue to perform together to date as well as pursuing their own solo projects.

Tickets to see Steve perform on Wednesday, January 22, from 8pm are £16 from 01672 512465. - Flicky Harrison