Faustus are a three-piece folk music band 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, Saul Rose and Paul Sartin. They have been described as “bloke-folk” and aiming to “rescue contemporary folk from the curse of feyness”. 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.
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.
The early years of the band were spent playing for the charities Superact and Live Music Now, 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, and toured it through UK folk clubs and venues. They received a nomination for the Horizon Award at the 2004 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Wager and disbandment (2005)
The band also recorded their second album, Wager on Fellside.
The album was toured, but afterwards rather than continue together the group disbanded to focus on other musical projects, including Bellowhead, Waterson–Carthy, van Eyken's solo work, and Harbron's duo with Emma Reid.
Reformation (2006–09)
Sartin and Kirkpatrick decided to reform the band, with the addition of their friend melodeon player Saul Rose, in 2006.
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.
The band released the eponymous Faustus album in 2008 on Navigator Records., and were nominated for Best Group at the 2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. They lost out to Lau.
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.
An official hiatus took place while Rose performed in the Royal National Theatre’s production of War Horse, 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. 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.
A third Faustus album, Death and Other Animals, was released on the West Park Music label in Autumn 2016 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.
