Press Release!

Published January 22, 2016

Faustus 2016 Spring UK Tour and Halsway Manor residency – press release and dates

PRESS RELEASE

Faustus announced as 2016 Halsway Manor artists in residence

Faustus are delighted to announce a year-long collaborative association with Halsway Manor, the national centre for folk arts, throughout 2016.

Arts Council England have announced funding to support the project which creates a unique partnership between Halsway Manor and Faustus, centred around the development of new arrangements of rare traditional English folk music; to be shared through workshops, two national tours and the recording of Faustus’s third album. The project combines the musical expertise of Faustus with the professional resources of Halsway Manor, including their extensive folk library and archive.

Faustus will begin researching and rehearsing new material at Halsway Manor in the early part of 2016 with a national tour planned in March. The album will be recorded in the Summer of 2016, before a second national album launch tour in October, making a new collection of English folk material widely available. Additionally Faustus will offer two workshop weekends at Halsway Manor over the year, sharing their considerable expertise with singers and instrumentalists wishing to explore ways to source, interpret and perform traditional material. The first of these takes place from 1^st-3^rd April 2016, with the second later in the year (dates tbc).

Halsway Manor, National Centre for Folk Arts, provides a permanent home for the enjoyment, study and development of folk music, dance and culture in England and draws on traditions from across Europe and beyond. Unique in the UK it hosts over 340 days of residential and outreach activity every year covering all facets of the folk arts from instrumental music, song and dance to traditional storytelling, crafts and instrument making. Halsway Manor is committed to excellence and opportunity for all with a broad programme that covers amateur exploration, professional development, the creation of new work and stewardship of our heritage. www.halswaymanor.org.uk

Faustus – Spring 2016 Tour

February

Sat. 27^th. The Brewhouse Arts Centre, Burton-on-Trent

01283 508 100 / brewhouse.co.uk

March

Fri 4^th Ruskin Mill, Nailsworth, Glos.

01453 837 537 / rmt.org/ruskin-mill-events

Sat. 5^th South Street Arts Centre, Reading

0118 960 6060 / readingarts.com

Sun 6^th Gill Nethercott Centre, Whitchurch

01256 896 270 / gillnethercottcentre.org.uk

Weds 9^th South Holland Centre, Spalding