The Sartin ancestry, all sorts of Kirkpatricks, Roses everywhere, Liza Carthy, Nic Jones, Martin Carthy, Jon and John, The Levellers, Led Zeppelin, Voice of the People, Mr Scruff, 60's folk revival, Norma Waterson, squeezebox players, guitar and bouzouki players, oboeists, fiddle players, morris dancing, The Band, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Hertfordshire and Hampshire and counties elsewhere too
Sounds Like
English Traditional Music.
Review of our first gig...
"We knew we were onto a winner. Anything involving Paul Sartin and Benji Kirkpatrick was bound to be well worth listening to - and with the excellent Saul Rose thrown in for good measure, how could it fail?
In fact, Faustus exceeded even our highest expectations. The arrangements were crisp and musical; the material was by turns joyful and moving; the presentation was both exuberant and committed; but above all, the chemistry - the sense of connection with each other, the material and the audience created a rare and precious atmosphere, the memory of which will live with us for a very long time.
First gig? These three were together in a previous life and long may they continue in this one!"
Sandy & Graham Ball. Folk at the Oak, Corsham
4 STAR REVIEW IN THE SUNDAY TIMES, 18TH MAY BY STEWART LEE
Faustus offer frill-free folk music that succeeds because it is superbly and tastefully performed. The born-again gypsy fiddler Paul Sartin, the melodeon player and Waterson/Carthy alumnus Saul Rose and Bellowhead’s bouzouki boy, Benji Kirkpatrick, reedit Nic Jones’s reading of Ballina Whalers into a sharp snapshot of shipboard life and discover the cold, still heart of the broadside ballad The New Deserter. The trio’s vocals sound dramatic and authentic without being histrionic or forced, and the instrumentation is immaculate. This modest, unheralded debut may yet emerge as a folk essential.
5 STAR REVIEW IN THE TELEGRAPH, 25TH MAY BY COLIN IRWIN
Benji Kirkpatrick and Paul Sartin - fretboard wizard and violinist/oboe player respectively with epic folk big band Bellowhead - have joined forces with Waterson Carthy melodeon maestro Saul Rose to give ever more fresh impetus to the impressive current surge of English traditional song.
This line-up has far more clarity and cohesiveness than its unfocused predecessor, Dr Faustus, with each member offering contrasting ingredients. Kirkpatrick's urgent attacking frenzy is tempered by the lofty, measured tone of the classically-trained Sartin, and they sound in perfect harmony - literally in the case of I Am a Brisk Lad. Ballina Whales, a lovely homage to Nic Jones ingeniously knitted into Battle of New Orleans, plus several piledriving sets of tunes confirm a considered album of exceptional class.
Sidmouth Folk Festival 2005, the Anchor pub. Paul walks in to find Saul and Benji enjoying a pint in the middle of a hot day. Benji is in full Bedlams kit, Saul isn't. They have a meeting. Having played together for some ceilidh work as 'The Colonel Jenkins Memorial Band' it is decided to take the trio on towards concerts. Faustus is formed to carry on the good work of previous years by Dr Faustus. Since that meeting in Sidmouth, Faustus have established themselves as a major force on the English roots scene. Looking forward to their third season of touring and with the debut album "Faustus" out on Navigator Records, the band goes from strength to strength.
All three members have been instrumental in the English revival of the last ten years (or so!).
Saul Rose is one of the country's finest Melodeon players and a rapidly developing singer. He's played melodeon for almost a quarter of a century! Saul works with lots of different line ups when away from Faustus and is usually busy playing somewhere... You can catch up with his whereabouts at: www.myspace.com/saulrose
Paul Sartin is a hugely versatile musician counting Christchurch Cathedral Choir and Dr Faustus amongst his past bands! As well as working with Faustus, Paul continues to be half of Belshazzars Feast and he is an integral part of Bellowhead lending oboe, fiddle, vocals and his inimitable jazz mc technique and dress sense to the group. Check out what Paul is up to at: www.paulsartin.co.uk
Also a key member of Bellowhead, fretboard wizard Benji Kirkpatrick makes up the final third of Faustus. Recently Benji has released his 3rd solo album "Boomerang" on Navigator Records, the album features (amongst others) the Mercury nominated Seth Lakeman. Benji has worked on Seth's albums, with the Oysterband Big Session and of course, Dr. Faustus, he continues to play in his fathers ceilidh band Mr Gubbins Bicycle... See where Benji is next at: www.myspace.com/benjikirkpatrick
BOOKING DETAILS:
Alan Bearman Music
Web: www.alanbearmanmusic.co.uk
Tel: 0207 263 0425
Simon Care (in association with Alan Bearman Music)
Tel: 07788 755756
Email: simon_abm@hotmail.co.uk
Reveal Agency (part of the Reveal/Navigator group)
Web: www.navigatorrecords.co.uk
Tel: 01332 552220.
Reveal Agency is in association with Alan Bearman Music
You can order our album direct from the band, just send us a message and we'll give you all the details...
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 2 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): WALKABOUT WITH MY PEN
Once drove an old sedan, up north, From a place in Sydney to Cairns; Then to Kuranda I went forth, By train, to look without set plans.
I browsed through the trendy market, With fresh fruits of tropical kind; Walked to the creek through lush thicket - Nature’s hand giving peace of mind.
I dined in a scenic cafe; Then, outside, as I wrote for yen, Some passing Kooris called-out: “Hey, You go walkabout with your pen.”
Request or question, I don’t know - Assured voices, elderly men. That’s now several years ago, And I’ve seen the world - with my pen.
CLUB INTEGRAL on Friday 30th January 2009 - 8.00 PM until late. At THE CANTERBURY ARMS, Canterbury Crescent, Brixton SW9 - two minutes from Brixton tube station.
Entry: £5 before 9.00 PM, £7.00 after.
Featuring music from: Trumpet and beats duo LOOP ELLINGTON Avant-garde wayfarers KOBAYASHI Australian folk chansonniers THE DOOMED BIRD OF PROVIDENCE. + a special guest to be announced.
With projections from JAIME RORY LUCY of RUCKSACK CINEMA DJs CHRIS CORNETTO and KARINA TOWSEND (Chalkwell Ladies).
Hi and thanks! Great stuff that I'm enjoying to the fullest...when do you come over to our country to gig and (hopefully) session? Vonnie from 2 Bits (hammered dulcimer and piano)
