Faustus
The Hostess’s Daughter
Acre of Land
Ballina Whalers
The all-star line-up returns. Nominated in the 2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, the Faustus truimvirate are three of the leading lights of their generation: Saul Rose (Waterson;Carthy, Whapweazel), Benji Kirkpatrick (Seth Lakeman Band, Bellowhead) and Paul Sartin (Bellowhead, Belshazzar’s Feast). They have a plethora of experience between them, brought together here in a virtuosic display of musicianship and testosterone. Rooted deeply in the English tradition, in 2007 they received a 75th Anniversary Award from the English Folk Dance and Song Society.
‘Frill-free folk music, superbly and tastefully performed . . . a folk essential’
**** Sunday Times
‘A considered album of exceptional class’
***** Daily Telegraph
Benji: Son of the famous folk melodeon and accordion player John Kirkpatrick, Benji Kirkpatrick a key member of folk big band Bellowhead who have appeared regularly on Later with Jools Holland and have been enjoying sell out tours throughout 2011. Benji also plays with the Seth Lakeman Band who shot to fame when Seth’s album ‘Kitty Jay’, featuring Benji, was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2005. The follow up to ‘Kitty Jay’, ‘Freedom Fields’ has sold more than 100,000 copies and led to a hectic touring schedule and sold out shows in the UK and beyond. Benji’s has also performed with numerous other artists including Oysterband, John Jones and Maddy Prior (Steeleye Span), and has also found time to release three solo albums.
Saul: Saul Rose was a long time member of Waterson:Carthy, winning two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards with Waterson:Carthy’s album ‘Broken Ground’ and eventually forming a successful duo with Eliza Carthy. The double album ‘Red Rice’, of which Saul was an integral part of the ‘Rice’ half, was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 1998. More recently Saul has joined Whapweasel, played in Ruth Notman’s band, and re-launched his duo with hammered dulcimer player with Maclaine Colston and in summer 2009 he joined Jim Moray’s regular band. He has played on several albums as a guest, including Jackie Oates’ album ‘Hyperboreans’, Norma Waterson and Eliza Carthy’s album ‘The Gift’ and the soundtrack for the film ‘Morris- A Life With Bells On’. He was nominated for the Musician of The Year award in the 2010 BBC Folk Awards and in 2011 took the part of Songman in the West End play War Horse.
Paul: Paul Sartin is also a member of BBC Radio 2 Award-winning big band Bellowhead along with Benji, as well as award-nominated duo Belshazzar’s Feast. He is also director of the Andover Museum Loft Singers, is a consultant for the charity Live Music Now and is a composer of note with recent compositions including ‘The Hartlepool Monkey’ for Streetwise Opera, ‘Anthony and Cleopatra’ for the Central School of Speech and Drama, and ‘Changing Landscapes’ for Broadstairs Folk Week.
Faustus came together in 2006 as an evolution of the award winning band Dr. Faustus, when Tim Van Eyken and Rob Harbron left to pursue other projects. They made an eponymous debut album in 2008, produced by Stu Hanna and released by Navigator Records, which saw them nominated as the Best Group in the 2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Subsequent touring saw them headlining at festivals, as well as playing sell-out concerts at arts centres and clubs.
‘Dynamically fascinating to watch, entertaining and intriguing. Their ability to switch from song to tune, from instrument to voice, from traditional tune to modern arrangements made seeing them again a necessity’Folk and Roots
‘Superb playing; lovely arrangements; great material’Living Tradition
After a two year break, Faustus return to the live circuit for festivals in summer 2012 and a national tour in autumn 2012.
