It was a cold, rainy December evening. The sort you really want to spend at home by the fire. Those that made the trek to Cecil Sharp House however were well rewarded with the festive cheer and sheer joy that the two Pauls bring to their performances (not to mention the interesting bass accompaniment from the cajun dance party going on upstairs).

They started off with evening with the lesser-known but absolutely wonderful carol King Herod and the Cock twinned with the playford tune Parson’s Farewell. Cue some jokes about the biblical characters that people don’t name their children after (Herod, Judas etc...). The evening continued onward with some old Belshazzar’s Feast favourites scattered liberally through material from their new Christmas album. The crowd were appreciative, and the performers on good comedy form.

Come the second half, things only improved more as the audience were strongly encouraged to join in with some carols - words provided and everything! The good folkies of Camden turned out to be in excellent voice, and didn’t even bat an eyelid at the suggested alternative words inserted here and there (Go on then - which carol includes the words "bring the two Pauls wine" - anyone?)! The men even willingly attempted (and more worryingly, succeeded!) in producing a rather impressive falsetto - you don’t hear that every day!

The musical virtuosity of these two really is astounding - the ease with which a classical tune by Mozart turns into variously ’White Christmas’ and then ’Frosty the Snowman’, well, I think a Belshazzar’s Feast gig might be the only place you’ll ever hear that.

But lest you come away with the belief that everything is comedy with these two, Paul Sartin shows that he is well capable of doing justice to some of the more serious carols - of which the Sans Day Carol and the Cherry Tree Carol come to mind.

They are on tour for the next couple of weeks - coming to a venue near you. Catch them if you can!