Their live act is recognised worldwide; 2020 will see the band performing at venues in Australia and New Zealand, as well as touring throughout Mainland Europe and the UK.

Playing music for our times, Faustus take traditional English music, rip it up, put it together again and move it on. A vigorous rhythmic impetus and rock/prog rock influence propels the sound into the here and now and a range of instruments deployed in unconventional ways gives a unique texture, depth and variety to the band’s sound.

Driving rhythms on bouzouki and guitar are reinforced by the melodeon, fiddle, oboe and cor anglais, creating arrangements that are intriguing and subtle, boisterous or punchy.

Setting the band apart are the distinctive individual voices of Kirkpatrick, Sartin and Rose. Their close harmonies are faultless and well-crafted and all three members trade lead vocals to great effect. Not content to cover the same ground twice, song after song surprises and entertains.

Death and Other Animals (2016) was awarded the German Critics Award (Schallplatenkritik Bestenliste), Germany’s equivalent of the Mercury Music Prize, for outstanding new releases in terms of their value, quality of interpretation and creativity. Faustus also received a nomination for the Malzhaus Plauen Award, 2018. Germany’s only European Folk Music Award is voted on annually by a panel of judges and live audience.

With their feet planted squarely in ‘the tradition’, the trio are seasoned ambassadors for English music. So much so that in 2016 they spent the year in residency at Halsway Manor, National Centre for the Folk Arts, plus they have each scooped special recognition awards from the English Folk Dance and Song Society.

Tickets

Pic – Richard Gearey