Tamworth Folk Club
May 2011 Guest Night Review

Belshazzar's Feast

The room at Bolehall manor had been beautifully laid out with chairs and tables, and with the new red carpet looked as good as I can remember it for any guest night. The stage was set with the PA system, microphones and the mixing desk all ready to go, when Steve Edkins appeared, and plugged in his guitar to do a sound check, you gather I arrived very early mainly because I wanted to sit at the door to relieve people of there money on entry. I didn’t have to wait long before the first of our audience came through the door; obviously there was not much on the telly at this time. But before long we had assembled a reasonable crowd of about 40 people and the evening got under way with Mitres Well minus Malcolm Robinson who was away enjoying himself abroad ( the things some people will do to avoid stardom) but with the addition of John De Ville on fiddle.

The first tune was called Derby Ram, followed by Both sides of the Tweed, a boarder song announced by Stephen who obviously had studied geography at school. With Steve Swoffer on his “cut down” bass guitar, I am sure that that’s not the technical term for it but from a seat at the door that’s what it looked like, there musical set went down a treat with the audience.
Before the main guests went on, we were treated to a display of a clog dance by the wife of John De Ville, Tessa, who brought her own fold up mat to dance on, she had heard that the club had a new floor, and with the accommpamyment of John on the fiddle, she left me breathless at least to obtain another pint from the bar.

It was now time for Stephen to announce our guests, Belshazzars Feast, I know many people had heard or seen them before and a few fans of theirs occupied seats.

A short summary of them:-

Paul Sartin

Following a spell inside the Purcell School of Music, Paul took up a choral scholarship at Magdalen College, Oxford. This led to five years service with the Cathedral Choir of Christ Church, Oxford. Alongside a freelance performing career he works regularly with Benji Kirkpatrick and young quartet Dr Faustus. He teaches at the school of King's College, Cambridge and Thorngrove School; produces records, he also does a number of commissioned compositions.

Paul Hutchinson - Accordion

Now an expert in his own field, Paul's career began as an organist and choirmaster. For ten years he led the notorious dance band The Old Pull & Push, leaving to form folk/rock giants IQ40. Paul rejoined the folk world in 1995 as a member of Fieldwork Productions. As well as leading workshops, Paul also freelances with various bands, features on a number of international releases by North Star Records and when time allows, presents the folk programme on Radio Maldwyn.


Since the two Paul’s paired up in 1995, their performances concerts, ceilidhs and social dances have featured on radio and TV, at clubs, village halls and festivals throughout the UK, Germany and the States. Recordings include an album for Beautiful Jo Records, two with Ian Bruce as the Breezeband and four on the Wild Goose label.

The accomplished playing of the violin and oboe by Paul Sartin and the accordion by Paul Hutchinson was wonderful to behold, and songs like Wild Rover, a version I had not heard before, and Thresherman went down well, and the two Paul’s can play their instruments to suit any occasion sad and happy. The break was followed by Mitres Well again and Tessa clogging it a second time before the raffle was drawn and the winner of the chocolates was happy to share them with all of us (they had no choice).

Bellshazzars Feast up on the stage again and another feast of songs and tunes including one accompanied with what I thought was a bicycle pump. Their add libbing and jokes between and during pieces had us all laughing and with numbers like Primus Hornpipe by John Clare (no relation) and self penned compositions, Royal Flush, Circle of Biscuits, and finishing with a
poignant number, Home Lad Home, I felt that the evening had been very enjoyable and the applause of the audience confirmed that fact.

As I said at the beginning the setting in this room is very congenial and comfortable and although we had a good number of our regular members, it would be nice to see a few more support the guest nights because they do bring a professional and alternative night’s entertainment to the Folk Club.

RDC 2011