Our Kevin Hand was lucky enough to meet celebrated Cambridge singer/song-writer Paul Godwin at the Cambridge Folk Festival, where he was promoting his latest album, Trinkets and Offcuts, and caught unawares he agreed to an interview: 

Hi Paul, how are you? 

Good thanks. Life has been a bit hectic lately because I'm getting married soon. Which seems to involve a lot more DIY than I realised. 

So, tell us about the new album 

It's called "Trinkets and Offcuts" and is a mixture of songs that I thought were a bit lightweight (by which I think I mean upbeat...) to  go on my next album and songs that didn't quite make it onto my last but I have a soft spot for. I write songs really slowly, so I want to make the most of any I think are good

It’s a slightly strange cover, and name, for a new album (do people still call them albums?) 

I still call them albums, though "record" is what the cool kids are saying I believe. I think the name is quite appropriate to the idea of it, but maybe I'm just getting my excuses in early. The artwork is a box I found in an antique shop in Cambridge and filled with some of  the little bits and bobs that I've ended up with over the years - also  seemed appropriate. I got the cover printed sideways so it opens as the box does, which I thought was pretty cool, but it seems to just confuse people.  

Tell us a bit more about some of the songs 

As far as individual songs go, "This Place is Dead Anyway" is about those parties with your old friends who don't really approve of people at their parties sitting in the kitchen drinking vodka out of their wedding china. I suppose I'm going to be one of them pretty soon now. The others are mostly about girls, real or imagined... 

Your passionate live shows are legendary. Playing live anywhere soon? 

Er, not really unfortunately. I've been busy and also I've lost the knack of getting people to let me... Hopefully I'll be able to sort some things out towards the end of the year. 

How was the Cambridge Folk Festival? 

I had a good time. Mary Chapin Carpenter was a definite highlight, and another act crossed off of the "people I'd like to see but have never seen" list. It got quite long for a while, but is back down to Bruce Springsteen and The Gin Blossoms at the moment. Femi Kuti was great fun too, and I enjoyed Justin Townes Earle. 

Any other musicians and bands you rate highly at the moment, from Cambridge or elsewhere? 

Well, he moved to Bristol, but Dan Flay is great and it seems like he might have finally finished recording his album. I've been listening to Tellison an awful lot lately too - I think the singer lives here. Further afield, I've really got into Dan Mangan in the last year or so - his show at St Pancras Old Church a couple of months ago was the best thing I've seen in a very long time.

 And finally, give me a better question that you would like to answer!

My favourite question that I've ever been asked was "what's your favourite kitchen utensil?” I'm not going to say what I answered. Got to keep some mystery haven't you.

Questions were put to Paul by Kevin Hand.

Paul's website & shop

Songs