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Described by Time Out as a 'fretboard wizard ', Benji Kirkpatrick is a gifted guitar player and an engaging and experienced performer. Over the decade or so that he has been working on the folk scene, he has honed a distinctive style which has rare energy.
"…a memorably aggressive bouzouki style…Powerful…" - Mojo
As well as being a soloist, Benji has also collaborated with peers and veterans of the scene on various ventures. He is one third of Faustus along with fiddle and oboe ace Paul Sartin and Waterson:Carthy member Saul Rose.
Benji has also worked with Nationwide Mercury Prize nominee Seth Lakeman. The two of them have played duo gigs together and featured on each others albums. (Benji appears on Seth's Mercury Prize nominated; 'Kitty Jay' as well as top selling 'Freedom Fields').
Oysterband invited Benji to join them on their Big Session tours of 2001 and 2003, alongside Cara Dillon, Eliza Carthy and Jim Moray.
Benji Kirkpatrick was born in the summer of 1976 when his parents, folk luminaries John Kirkpatrick and Sue Harris, were on a rare break from touring. The couple played together as a duo throughout the 70's and 80's and with countless classic line ups – Albion Country Band, Steeleye Span, Richard Thompson, Brass Monkey to name but a few.
In the hills of Shropshire, Benji, like other children immersed in the folk world, was brought up listening to a wide range of musical styles. It wasn't long before he was picking up instruments and with the arrival of an electric guitar into his life, Benji began listening to 50's Rock n' Roll, before moving via ZZ Top to Jimi Hendrix.
At college, Benji formed a band called The Hedgerows, who eventually evolved into an acoustic outfit, resulting in them having a song (penned by Benji) featured on Evolving Tradition 1 (Mrs Casey Records) in 1995. This got Benji's name noticed and his solo debut ('Dance in the Shadow') was released in 1998 on the Wildgoose label. Benji joined the band Dr Faustus in the same year.
In 2004, Benji's 2nd solo album, 'Half a Fruit Pie', was released, this time on the Fellside label.
In the same year, folk big band Bellowhead was formed and Benji was a founder member. With an appearance on BBC TV's 'Later' and performances everywhere from the Royal Opera House to the Albert Hall(as part of BBC TV's Proms), the band has gone from strength to strength. They are headlining festivals in the UK and in Europe and, following in St Etienne's footsteps, are now Band in Residence at London's South Bank Centre.
In 2008 Benji released his third solo recording, Boomerang, on the then newly formed Navigator label, which consisted almost exclusively of his own songs. A busy time ensued and Benji was asked to work with Maddy Prior, the voice of Steeleye Span, who has a new album out called 'Seven for Old England' on which Benji features heavily.
The most recent development is that Benji has joined yet another outfit, this time as part of Seth Lakeman's band. The pair of them have worked together on and off for many years, teaming up together with John Jones (Oysterband) in 2004 for a trio tour as well as many duo gigs. Now Benji is a full time member of the band and will feature on the forthcoming Seth album, released later this year.
