Isle of Wight singer-songwriter Paul Armfield is all set for a six-date UK tour, where he will debut new material for an upcoming 2025 album inspired by literature.
Earlier this year Paul captured the beauty of nature in his EP release, Trees. This collection of songs draws deeply from Paul’s personal connection to the natural world. With seven previous albums under his belt, each imbued with poetic and literate lyrics, Paul’s newest work continues his tradition of introspective and heartfelt songwriting.
His EP launch saw Paul appear on the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe, who praised Armfield’s previous album Domestic as “sensitive, melodic, heartfelt, gentle. well-observed, beautifully sung.”
A journey from Eastern Europe to the Isle of Wight
Paul Armfield’s musical path has been as rich and varied as his influences. After spending several years in revolutionary Eastern Europe, he returned to the Isle of Wight in the early 1990s. It was here he would go on to build a life that included running a bookstore, starting a family and crafting the songs that have since won him widespread acclaim.
His first album, Songs Without Words, released in 2003, was greeted enthusiastically by critics, who drew comparisons to Cat Stevens, Tim Hardin and Nick Drake. Its “Folk Noir” sound led to collaborations with groups like Tindersticks and Lambchop. Paul’s work on his albums — such as setting Tennyson’s poetry to music and composing songs inspired by vintage Berlin flea-market photographs — continues to expand the creative boundaries of contemporary folk music.
A crowdfunding success and international reach
In recent years, Paul’s music has found a particularly enthusiastic audience on the continent. His 2015 album Found, recorded in Berlin, saw him collaborating with European musicians and exploring the meaning of “home” — whether as a physical place or as a sense of identity. Released ahead of Brexit, the album struck a chord with audiences and was declared “the best Berlin album of all time” by Radio Eins.
Returning in 2024 with his Trees EP and a new single Night Thoughts/I’m Here, Paul is poised to build on his legacy. He continues to take an insightful approach to songwriting, addressing themes like men’s mental health, which remains close to his heart.
A life rich with music, art and community
Now in his mid-50s, Paul remains a multi-faceted artist. By day, he continues to sell books and occasionally serves as a funeral celebrant, but his musical influence reaches beyond his solo work.
As a double bassist, he has recorded on Michael Kiwanuka’s hit single I’m Getting Ready, collaborated with jazz pianist Greg Foat, and maintains an alter ego as the “Stranger On The Saw” when performing on the musical saw.
Praised by luminaries like Guy Garvey and Chris Difford, Paul’s music exudes warmth and subtlety, marking him as a “songwriter’s songwriter.”
To discover more about Paul Armfield’s latest work and the six tour dates, visit his website.
‘I love Domestic so much – sensitive, melodic, heartfelt, gentle. well-observed, beautifully sung’ Mark Radcliffe
‘A buried treasure…heir to deathless troubadours such as Tim Hardin’ Gavin Martin in The Mirror
‘Everything about Up Here is exceptional. Breathtaking’ Simon Holland on Folk Radio
‘I love ‘YOU’! Best song I have heard in ages’ Rolling Stones producer Chris Kimsey
‘Gorgeous..beautiful, positive and amazing. Ace!’ Lauren Laverne BBC 6 Music
‘Exquisite, extraordinary, almost unbearably beautiful’ James McNair in Mojo
‘A lovely lyric, a spellbinding song. This is really beautiful’ Guy Garvey
‘Heartbreakingly beautiful. An Album to be treasured’ Electric Ghost
‘A voice that could make the Needles crumble’ The Word magazine
‘Spooky, affecting folkish singer-songwriterliness’ Time Out
‘As toasty and lovely as Christmas morning’ Caitlin Moran
‘A Perfect example of English songwriting’ Maverick
‘Lovely, lovelorn songs’ Nigel Williamson in Uncut
‘An incredible collection of songs’ iD magazine
‘Your album is the dogs!’ Chris Difford
’Distinctively amazing’ Rudimental
‘A revelation’ The Scotsman
