Faustus (band)
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Faustus
| image =
| caption =
| image_size =
| origin = Hampshire, Shropshire, Hertfordshire, UK
| birth_name =
| alias =
| birth_date =
| death_date =
| instruments = Vocals, fiddle, guitar, melodeon, oboe, bouzouki, cor anglais, banjo, mandolin
| genre = English folk music
| occupation =
| years_active = 1998–present
| label = Fellside
Navigator
West End Music
Westpark Music
| associated_acts = Bellowhead
Belshazzar's Feast
Whapweasel
Seth Lakeman
Dr Faustus
| website = [http://www.faustusband.com/ faustusband.com]
| current_members = Benji Kirkpatrick
Saul Rose
| past_members = Paul Sartin (1998 - 2022, his death)
Pete Flood (2010)
James Fagan (2010)
}}
Faustus are a folk music duo based in the UK. The all-male membership brings together multi-instrumentalist musicians active across many other leading bands in the UK folk scene: Benji Kirkpatrick (Seth Lakeman Band, Bellowhead, Steeleye Span), Saul Rose (Waterson–Carthy, Whapweasel) and formerly Paul Sartin (Bellowhead, Belshazzar's Feast). They have been described as “bloke-folk” and aiming to “rescue contemporary folk from the curse of feyness” (The Independent).{{Cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/faustus-broken-down-gentlemen-navigator-8527672.html|title=Faustus, Broken Down Gentlemen (Navigator)|date=9 March 2013|newspaper=The Independent|first =Nick|last=Coleman}} In 2007 they received a 75th anniversary award from the English Folk Dance and Song Society, and they were nominated as best group at the 2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Origins (1998–2004)
Faustus evolved out of an earlier four-piece band, Dr Faustus, featuring Sartin and Kirkpatrick alongside melodeon player and singer Tim van Eyken and concertina player Robert Harbron.
Sartin and Kirkpatrick had been playing together for a number of years, and were looking to expand their work with others to explore traditional English music. Sartin met van Eyken and Harbron while performing the Mick Ryan opera A Day's Work at Salisbury Playhouse. The band's name came from the traditional tune Dr Fauster’s Tumblers rather than the Christopher Marlowe play of the same name.Taplas 119, August/September 2003
The early years of the band were spent playing for the charities Superact{{Cite web|url=http://www.superact.org.uk/|title=Superact website|website=Superact|language=en-GB|access-date=29 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913114452/http://www.superact.org.uk/|archive-date=13 September 2012|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.superact.org.uk/2014/03/10/interview-paul-sartin-of-faustus-and-bellowhead-talks-to-superact/ |title=Paul Sartin of Faustus and Bellowhead talks to Superact |access-date=30 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916235744/http://www.superact.org.uk/2014/03/10/interview-paul-sartin-of-faustus-and-bellowhead-talks-to-superact/ |archive-date=16 September 2016 |url-status=dead }} and Live Music Now,{{Cite web|url=http://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/ |title=Live Music Now website|website=Livemusicnow.org.uk |language=en-GB|access-date=29 August 2016}} putting live music into schools, prisons, hospitals and other venues.
In 2002–03 the band recorded their first album The First Cut on Fellside recordings,{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicscotland.com/cd/Dr-Faustus-First-Cut.htm|title=Dr Faustus The First Cut review, Music Scotland|website=Musicscotland.com|accessdate=15 June 2020}} and toured it through UK folk clubs and venues. They received a nomination for the Horizon Award (best new artist) at the 2004 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Wager and disbandment (2005)
The band also recorded their second album, Wager (2005) on Fellside.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fellside.com/shop/fe-cd/dr-faustus-wager/|title=Fellside listing, Wager|website=Fellside.com|accessdate=15 June 2020|archive-date=11 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911195253/http://www.fellside.com/shop/fe-cd/dr-faustus-wager/|url-status=dead}}
The album was toured, but afterwards rather than continue together the group disbanded to focus on other musical projects, including Bellowhead (of which Sartin and Kirkpatrick were founder members), Waterson–Carthy, van Eyken's solo work,{{Cite web|url=https://www.topicrecords.co.uk/2010/09/tim-van-eyken-stiffs-lovers-holymen-thieves-tscd565/|title=Tim Van Eyken – Stiffs Lovers Holymen Thieves|website=Topicrecords.co.uk|accessdate=15 June 2020}} and Harbron's duo with Emma Reid.{{Cite web|url=https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/records/robharbron.html|title=Rob Harbron|website=Mainlynorfolk.info|accessdate=15 June 2020}}
Reformation (2006–09)
Sartin and Kirkpatrick decided to reform the band, with the addition of their friend melodeon player Saul Rose, in 2006.{{Cite web|url=https://www.colstonhall.org/shows/faustus/|title=Faustus / Shows / Colston Hall|website=Colstonhall.org|accessdate=15 June 2020}}
The resurrected band was renamed Faustus to reflect the slightly different line-up.
The band were active on the UK folk music circuit, and received English Folk Dance and Song Society 75th anniversary awards in 2007, to commemorate their significant contributions to the development and continuity of traditional English folk music, song and dance.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wiltshirefolkarts.org.uk/wfnewsjul07.htm|title=Wiltshire Folk Arts – July Newsletter|website=Wiltshirefolkarts.org.uk|accessdate=15 June 2020}}
The band released the eponymous Faustus album in 2008 on Navigator Records,{{Cite web|url=http://www.navigatorrecords.co.uk/artists/faustus/|title=Faustus|date=21 June 2012|website=Navigatorrecords.co.uk|accessdate=15 June 2020}} and were nominated for Best Group at the
2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/records/folkawards.html|title=BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards|website=Mainlynorfolk.info|accessdate=15 June 2020}} They lost out to Lau (band).
Hiatus (2010–11)
Kirkpatrick took on a prominent role in Seth Lakeman’s band during 2010, and the band briefly expanded to include Bellowhead drummer and percussionist Pete Flood and Australian singer/guitar/bouzouki player James Fagan, best known for his work with Nancy Kerr. The band appeared as a four-piece outfit, and occasionally a five-piece group when Kirkpatrick's touring commitments allowed.Taplas 158, February/March 2010
An official hiatus took place while Rose performed in the Royal National Theatre’s production of War Horse (play),{{Cite web|url=https://www.curtaincallonline.com/profile/saul-rose/6621|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615203026/https://www.curtaincallonline.com/profile/saul-rose/6621|url-status=usurped|archive-date=15 June 2020|title=Saul Rose Theatre Profile|website=Curtaincallonline.com|accessdate=15 June 2020}} a role previously undertaken by Tim van Eyken.
2011 to present
During 2011 Kirkpatrick stood back from his commitments to the Seth Lakeman Band, and the National Theatre replaced the War Horse cast, enabling Faustus to come together again.
Their second album under the Faustus name, Broken Down Gentlemen, was released on Navigator Records in spring 2013.{{Cite web|url=http://www.navigatorrecords.co.uk/artists/faustus/| title=Navigator Records, Broken Down Gentlemen|website=Navigatorrecords.co.uk|accessdate=15 June 2020}} The band have undertaken twice-yearly tours, and performed at folk festivals all over the UK, Europe and New Zealand.
During 2013 the band collaborated with dance group Morris Offspring to produce a work called The Furnace, which combined high energy morris dancing with Faustus's music.{{Cite web|url= http://www.morrisoffspring.org.uk/| title=Morris Offspring: The Furnace|website=Morrisoffspring.org.uk|accessdate=15 June 2020 }}
In 2016 Faustus became Artists in Residence at Halsway Manor, the National Centre for the Folk Arts, in Somerset.{{Cite web|url= http://halswaymanor.org.uk/artists/resident-artists/ | title=Halsway Manor: Resident Artists|website=Halswaymanor.org.uk|accessdate=15 June 2020}} Their work at Halsway has seen them using the centre collections to explore developing arrangements of rare traditional folk music.
A third Faustus album, Death and Other Animals, was released on the West Park Music label in Autumn 2016. {{Cite web|url= http://www.grapevinelive.co.uk/2016/08/11/faustus/ | title=Grapevine Live: Faustus|website=Grapevinelive.co.uk|accessdate=15 June 2020}} The album was recorded at Halsway Manor, and features songs from the centre's extensive collection. This album was awarded the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik for folk music in early 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.schallplattenkritik.de/bestenlisten/883-bestenliste-1-2017|title=Bestenliste 1–2017|last=Alm|website=Schallplattenkritik.de|language=de-de|access-date=10 April 2017|archive-date=4 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170404081229/http://www.schallplattenkritik.de/bestenlisten/883-bestenliste-1-2017|url-status=dead}}
Paul Sartin died suddenly on September 14, 2022, at the age of 51.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-15 |title=A statement from Paul Sartin's family |url=https://tradfolk.co/news/a-statement-from-paul-sartins-family/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=TradFolk}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-02 |title=Paul Sartin obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/oct/02/paul-sartin-obituary |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=the Guardian |language=en|first=Derek|last=Schofield}} Kirkpatrick and Rose subsequently performed a small number of dates in the weeks following Sartin's death.
Band members
- Benji Kirkpatrick – (1998–present) – guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, banjo, vocals
- Saul Rose – (2006–present) – melodeon (accordion), vocals
= Past members =
as Dr Faustus
- Tim van Eyken – (1998–2005) – melodeon, vocals{{Cite web|url= http://www.timvaneyken.co.uk/ | title=Tim van Eyken official website |website=Timvaneyken.co.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=29 August 2016}}
- Robert Harbron – (1998–2005) – concertina, bassoon, vocals{{Cite web|url= http://robertharbron.com/ | title=Robert Harbron official website |website=Robertharbron.com|language=en-GB|access-date=29 August 2016}}
as Faustus
- Pete Flood – (2010) – drums, percussion{{Cite web|url= http://www.bellowhead.co.uk/bio/blog/pete-flood-percussion | title=Bellowhead: Pete Flood, Percussion|website=Bellowhead.co.uk|accessdate=15 June 2020}}
- James Fagan – (2010) – guitar, bouzouki, vocals
- Paul Sartin – (1998–2022) – oboe, violin, cor anglais, vocals
Discography
as Dr Faustus
- 2001 Evolving Tradition 3 (one track, Dr Faustus Set) Mrs Casey Recordings{{Cite web|url= https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/records/evolvingtradition.html | title=Mainly Norfolk, Evolving Tradition Albums|website=Mainlynorfolk.info|accessdate=15 June 2020}}
- 2003 The First Cut Fellside Records {{Cite web|url= http://www.musicscotland.com/cd/Dr-Faustus-First-Cut.html | title=Music Scotland: Dr Faustus, The First Cut|website=Musicscotland.com|accessdate=15 June 2020}}
- 2004 Cutting Edge (Fellside compilation) (one track – The Beggarman) {{Cite web|url= http://www.fellside.com/shop/fecs/various-cutting-edge/ | title=Fellside Recordings, Various, Cutting Edge|website=Fellside.com|accessdate=15 June 2020}}
- 2005 Wager Fellside Records {{Cite web|url=http://www.fellside.com/shop/fe-cd/dr-faustus-wager/|title=Fellside Records. Dr Faustus. Wager|website=Fellside.com|accessdate=15 June 2020|archive-date=11 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911195253/http://www.fellside.com/shop/fe-cd/dr-faustus-wager/|url-status=dead}}
as Faustus
- 2008 Faustus Navigator Records {{Cite web|url= http://www.navigatorrecords.co.uk/artists/faustus/ | title=Navigator Records. Faustus. Faustus.|website=Navigatorrecords.co.uk|accessdate=15 June 2020}}
- 2013 Broken Down Gentlemen Navigator Records {{Cite web|url= http://www.navigatorrecords.co.uk/artists/faustus/ | title=Navigator Records. Faustus. Broken Down Gentlemen|website=Navigatorrecords.co.uk|accessdate=15 June 2020}}
- 2016 Death and Other Animals Westpark Music{{Cite web|url= http://www.westparkmusic.de/index_fl.html | title=West Park Music. Faustus|website=Westparkmusic.de|accessdate=15 June 2020}}
- 2019 Cotton Lords EP – Five Songs of the Lancashire Cotton Famine Westpark Music
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.faustusband.com/ Official Faustus website]
- {{Discogs artist|1482018}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:English folk musical groups