 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
PerformancePaul is a prolific performer. He is a founding member of Faustus, Bellowhead and the acapella group Mouth and Trousers. He has appeared on TV, the big screen and worked on theatre productions. Past enterprises include Dr Faustus and Belshazzar's Feast. In December 2006, Paul and Benji headed off to India, for an extraordinary week in Chennai and Bangalore. To pick up the gauntlet left by the late Dr Faustus (BBC Radio 2 Horizon Awards nominees, 2004), Paul and Benji have formed Faustus. Joining them is Saul Rose (Kings of Calicutt, Waterson:Carthy, Random) is one of the country's best melodeon players, who they have lured out of musical semi-retirement with tempting promises of fame, glory, riches, and, ultimately, world domination. They have concert tour lined up for October, and a further album is planned for next year.
Bellowhead won the Best Live Act category at the BBC Radio2 Folk Awards in February 2005. Since then they have played at numerous festivals and embarked upon several grand tours (of th UK). Future plans include a busy summer festival schedule, a September album release and an autumn tour. Top of page Paul's previous TV work includes Midsommer Murders, Inspector Morse, Sons and Lovers, and on the big screen, Shadowlands, directed by Richard Attenborough and featuring Magdalen College Choir. He has performed live on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction and BBC Radio 2's Mike Harding Show, and has popped up over the years on BBC Radios 2, 3, 4, Classic FM, GLR and numerous local stations. Paul's most recent work was on 'Lark Rise to Candleford', a piece of music theatre derived from Flora Thompson's autobiographical account of 19th-century life in rural England. Directed by Andy Jordan, it was staged in December 2004 at Bradfield College. Paul was responsible for coaching the singers and band, scoring band arrangements, and conducting for the shows, as well as drafting in members of the late Dr Faustus, singing a couple of numbers, appearing on stage, and growing some extraordinary 19th-century-style facial hair. Past theatrical offerings include original music and arrangements for 'The Beggar's Opera' (Gay), 'The Bald Prima Donna' (Ionesco), 'Decadence' (Berkoff) and 'The School for Scandal' (Sheridan).
Dr Faustus' debut CD, 'The First Cut' (2003) was nominated for a BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award. In January 2004 they were filmed with Eliza Carthy in Wherwell for an HTV production about Cecil Sharp. 'Wager', the second CD, was released in April 2005, to coincide with the band's third tour. Paul met accordionist Paul Hutchinson in the (long-defunct) band Life of Reilly in 1995. Finding quickly that they had common interests, both musical and extra-curricular, they set up as a duo and came to record for Doug Bailey at Wildgoose in the winter of 1995, shortly after which Doug drafted them in to provide backing for Ian Bruce. This line-up eventually became the Breezeband and toured the UK and Germany. As well as touring the club and festival concert circuit in the UK and USA, Belshazzar's Feast specialised in interpreting English traditional and historical dance, albeit in an unorthodox manner which often ruffled feathers. They worked closely with caller Andrew Shaw on three CDs of dances from Playford and Kynaston's collections and a couple of accompanying publications.
|
Paul formed the acappella ensemble in his last couple of years at Christ
Church, along with three other Lay Clerks - Andrew Olleson, Paul Thompson
and Paul Miles-Kingston, who has since left, to be replaced by Simon
Gallear. With a repertoire spanning over five centuries, they have
performed at a wide range of venues including Bath Festival. 
Other recent work by Paul includes a guest performance on Martin Carthy's
album Waiting for Angels (Topic TSCD527) and a concert appearance with both
Martin Carthy and guitar virtuoso Martin Simpson at the BBC Radio2 Folk
Awards in February 2005. This, along with Bellowhead's spot, was broadcast
on BBC4. 
Dr Faustus was founded in 1998, when few young people were performing traditional English music. Having pestered Benji about the need for a new ensemble, and following a tip-off from Nancy Kerr, Paul set about recruiting the established duo Tim van Eyken and Rob Harbron. Paul, Tim and Rob first played together for the premiere of Mick Ryan's 'The Voyage' at Salisbury Playhouse in July 1998, and were joined by Benji for a dance in September at Kingston Bagpuize.
In its early years the quartet was involved in a large amount of work for Live Music Now!, whilst building up a reputation on the folk circuit, playing arts centres, large clubs, and major folk festivals. 
Paul and Benji took English roots music to Chennai and Bangalore in December 2006.
The duo performed at The Other Festival and the Buzz concert series organised by The British Council. Photos of the trip are on the