Music at Bill’s Kitchen with Paul Armfield
May 5, 2025 @ 7:00 PM
Join us in Bill’s Kitchen for our monthly music night with: Paul Armfield
After a few years in revolutionary eastern Europe, Paul Armfield returned to his beloved Isle of Wight in the early 90’s to get married, have children, sell books and write songs. His first album Songs Without Words was released in 2003 to wide critical acclaim, his voice being compared to the likes of Cat Stevens, Tim Hardin and Nick Drake and the music being described as Folk Noir, leading to various associations and collaborations with the likes of Tindersticks and Lambchop. A big fan of Scott Walker Paul was likewise applauded for his renditions of Jacques Brel chansons as well as his own lovelorn, poetic songs.
Running a bookstore by day Paul nevertheless managed to release six more albums including an album of Tennyson’s Poetry set to music, 2013’s ‘Up Here’ which found fans such as Lauren Laverne and Caitlin Moran, and 2015’s ‘Found’: a selection of songs written around a collection of photographs gathered from the flea markets of Berlin; Radio Eins declared it ‘The best Berlin album of all time’.
With a strong fan-base on the continent, Paul’s 7th album ‘Domestic’ was recorded in Germany with a pan European cast of musicians and explored the concept of ‘home’, be it the house you live or the country you grew up in. Foreshadowing Brexit and the subsequent pandemic, the album was a crowd-funded success and became a firm favourite of Mark Radcliffe.
2024 saw the release of the TREES EP, 5 songs commissioned to be listened to in a small area of woodland beneath the trees that inspired them.
Although seldom found on UK stages, now in his mid 50s Paul is a veteran performer with a warm, relaxed stage presence. A songwriter’s songwriter, he has picked up plaudits from the likes of Guy Garvey and Chris Difford. Still selling books by day he is also an occasional funeral celebrant, a lino-cut artist, and a double bassist whose playing can be heard on the best-selling Michael Kiwanuka single ‘I’m Getting Ready’ as well as collaborations with jazz pianist Greg Foat. An accomplished musical-saw player, he has a busking alter-ego called the Stranger On The Saw.
Tickets for music are £10 and the music starts at 7pm. Drinks can be ordered during the evening.
Eat as well by booking a meal-and-music ticket for £25. Come along to eat any time after 5.30pm – the earlier you come the bigger the menu selection.
Please note that due to the popularity of these events you may be invited to share a table with other diners on the night.
For further information about the meals, please contact Bill’s Kitchen directly on 01584 877956.
