A love of literature has forever surrounded singer/songwriter Paul Armfield’s life and for over thirty years he has been on the forefront of literary distribution. In every region of Britain, there are concentrated hotbeds of creativity which are unique to the area and offer a sense of uniqueness. Separated from mainland UK by the Solent, the Isle of Wight has forever cultivated a vibrant musical tradition that has frequently translated to the rest of Britain, if not worldwide. From the singer Craig Douglas to Level 42’s Mark King, the Island’s musical heritage is among those elements that we are most proud of. Yet in recent times, thanks to creative initiatives like Platform One, the IOW has spawned a new generation of artists The Bees’ debut album Sunshine Hit Me in 2002 saw a new dawning for Isle of Wight bands which sparked a local creative revolution.
A musician himself, Paul has released a total of eleven albums which challenges the conventional love song. In 2024 he devoted an album to his love of trees which was a refreshing take on the normal inspiration for a song. The success of the album encouraged Paul to reflect on other subjects which would warrant such a musical salute. Books have always been a significant part of Paul’s life and is the subject of endless fascination that he set about writing a few songs around it. Originally he wrote just two songs but inspired by a friend, he eventually wrote a whole album entitled Between The Covers. This is an audio love letter to his passion for literature in the style of a soft rock masterpiece and Paul is proud of the results.
Beyond music, Paul remains a tireless ambassador for local authors and the annual Isle of Wight Literary Festival seems the perfect platform to showcase this. Originally, the festival merely focused on acclaimed national authors with universal reach but a few years ago a decision was made to remove the nationwide retailer Blackwells as the official stockist of the festival and Paul and Medina Bookshop inherited the contract. It was here when Paul got a real insight into the many logistics behind the running of the event which increased his respect for the trustees of Northwood House. To arrange an annual four day festival with limited resources while still maintaining a high calibre of author who the audience of the Island would want to see is an impossible task. Therefore anyone who attempts this deserves a great deal of respect.
Meanwhile, the Medina Bookshop goes from strength to strength with a healthy range of events to keep the people of the Island entertained throughout the year. The latest one being on Wednesday 22nd October when Paul shall be sharing the stage with friend of Beyond The Title: Larry Lamb to celebrate the release of his debut novel All Wrapped Up. There’s so many exciting things ahead for Paul to look forward to but for this weekend it’s full steam ahead for the Isle of Wight Literary Festival. On Friday night he shall be running the Author Author pitches at Northwood House in which writers have just two minutes to pitch their books to a live audience. Throughout the weekend he will be running Write On Wight where local authors exhibit their work to the general public. Then for what many will see as the climax of the festival, on Saturday night he will be treating audiences to an acoustic performance of songs from the new album alongside favourites from his extensive repertoire as the sun sets on Northwood House.
I have spent the past nine years welcoming some of the cream of British entertainment to the podcast. While such stars continue to glisten in the showbiz spotlight, I seldom stop and consider the talent available on my own doorstep. Paul Armfield remains the perfect example of homegrown talent who takes the same pride in seeing others shine as himself. It’s always an utter pleasure to spend time in his company and it was a real privilege for me to invite a friend to the podcast.
Beyond The Title