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27 4 letters for average inside 4 letters for an act

15 hints already given
19 East African - 3 letters for knowledge + 3 letters for no (reversed)

20d def. rise

All done now. Thanks, Jazzgirl,
Barry (bassman)

@Barryc

Bass drum, guitar or Double bass ? 🎼

Smot, can you give a gentle hint to 1d and 2d? I'm struggling with that NW corner. I have S-A--- for 1d and L-T--- for 2d – or have I gone wrong?

david, crossers are correct.

2: definition ("cleansing substance") is questionable, answer is a substitution of first letter.

1a: definition "they try to move stuff", substitution of a 4-letter word for a 2-letter abbreviation within a 6-letter word ("mariners").

Sorry, misread...same 2 crossers for 1a and 1d.
1d is a reversal of a 6-letter word for "goes over"

Thanks, geeker. Still puzzled, but I'll gave another look when I get back from shopping!

Geeker, thanks again and now the penny has finally dropped! I actually had the answer for 1d at one point but dismissed it because I hadn't spotted the reverse spelling. 2d still looks dubious to me.

Loved 12ac, though, the final solution filled in on my grid – thought that was really witty!

Don't often post here but I often look for hints. Thanks to all fellow cruciverbalists for help and encouragement.