Paul Armfield - Songs For Bibliophiles Tour 2025

Event information

Having spent the past 30 years balancing a career in bookselling with his sideline as a singer songwriter, Paul Armfield has finally reconciled the two worlds in an album of songs about books and reading. With his intimate baritone and warm stage presence, his renditions of these literate, witty songs, accompanied only by his guitar and musical saw will leave you completely charmed.

In early 2023 Paul was commissioned by environmental group Gift To Nature to compose a suite of songs about five trees that grow in Sibden Hill, a small but surprisingly diverse copse all but hidden in the middle of a modern housing estate in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight. The resultant EP ‘TREES’ was released last year to wide acclaim, being hailed by legendary BBC DJ Frank Hennessy as 'a work of genius’, earning Paul a live session on Radio2’s Folk Show and used exclusively on BBC2’s tribute to Dame Maggie Smith.

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.