Nominated in the 2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, the Faustus triumvirate are three of the leading lights of their generation: Saul Rose (Waterson:Carthy, Whapweasel), 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.

After a two year break, Faustus returned to the live circuit for festivals in summer 2012 releasing a new album, Broken Down Gentlemen on Navigator Records, in March 2013. They have been the road since then with direct and powerful live performances that have put them at the forefront of the new English folk revival.

Rooted deeply in the English tradition, in 2007 they received a 75th Anniversary Award from the English Folk Dance and Song Society. Faustus was the official Artist In Residence for 2016 at Halsway Manor, the centre for folk arts, a partnership which is supported by Arts Council England’s Grants For The Arts funding programme.

‘A blend of energy and musicianship that establishes this trio as one of Britains outstanding folk bands…[a] distinctive blend of subtlety and attack.’ ★★★★ The Guardian
‘The concept? To rescue contemporary folk from the curse of feyness… Bloke-folk!… Fans of Led Zep III should take a thoughtful interest.’ ★★★★ Independent On Sunday
‘English traditional songs played with great verve and no little imagination’ ★★★★ Radio 2
‘Dynamically fascinating to watch, entertaining and intriguing.’ Folk and Roots

Scion of a noted folk dynasty, Benji Kirkpatrick is a key member of folk big band and BBC Award winners Bellowhead. Benji featured with the Seth Lakeman Band who shot to fame when Kitty Jay, featuring Benji, was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize in 2005. Benji 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 Rose was a long time member of Waterson:Carthy, winning two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards with Broken Ground and forming a duo with Eliza Carthy. More recently Saul has joined Whapweasel, played in Ruth Notman’s band, and re-launched his duo with Maclaine Colston. He was nominated for Musician Of The Year in the 2010 BBC Folk Awards and in 2011 took the part of Songman in the West End play War Horse.

Paul Sartin is also a member of Bellowhead, as well as BBC Folk Award-nominated duo Belshazzar’s Feast. He is Director of the Andover Museum Loft Singers, consultant for the charity Live Music Now and is a composer of note with recent works 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.