Paul - Profile

Paul (Photo: Simon Meeds)

This article is one of a series on regulars at the club.

Paul first came along to a Dragon Folk Club session on 10th March 2023 and has been a regular ever since.

He sings unaccompanied and while he's happy to sing any songs he particularly enjoys a good loud chorus, shanties, and music hall songs in a "traditional" folk style. He is beginning to learn a few ballads too.

Paul started singing in a school choir. He sang the Hallelujah Chorus at the Royal Festival Hall in 1966. 

He started singing again at the Tribe of Doris festival in an African Harmony Choir and learnt Zimbabwean folk songs with Chartwell Dutiro, a mbira player, in a singing froup at Buckfastleigh in 2001/3.

Paul met Denny in 2004/5 who educated him in 'British folk music' and festivals. He found his folk singing voice at the Towersey Sing-around Bar in 2007. He then sang annually at The (Wareham) Wail from 2009 to 2022. He has also been a Middle Bar singer at Sidmouth since February 2023.

Paul has built his repertoire from eight songs to over a hundred thanks to the opportunities for singing at the Dragon Folk Club. He says "we sing often and it's a friendly, non-critical, informal environment". He also now sings at WoTFolk and The Victoria, Westbuty-on-Trym and at Stan Drews in St Andrews, Bristol, both of which are monthly folk clubs. Paul has also sung at The Mutiny Shanty Sessions at Bristol harbour and at the West Somerset Folk Weekend in 2025.