Benji Kirkpatrick

Fantastic singer songwriter and multi instrumentalist. Founder member of Bellowhead. Long-term collaborator with Seth Lakeman.

There is no bar. However, please do bring your own refreshments. There will be tea/coffee and homemade cakes for sale in the interval.

Benji Kirkpatrick is a singer, songwriter and musician. A “fretboard wizard” (Time Out) of multiple stringed instruments – bouzouki, guitar, banjo, mandolin – he has been performing solo for over 25 years. As a key founder member of folk big band,Bellowhead,Benji has enjoyed playing in front of large festival audiences as well appearances on the likes of Later… with Jools Holland.

Benji was head hunted by folk rock pioneers,Steeleye Spanin 2017 (40 years after his dad, John, was in the band) and was a member until 2021, featuring on 50th anniversary album ‘Est’d. 1969’.

Benji is a long-term collaborator withSeth Lakeman, featuring on the successful releases ‘Kitty Jay’, ‘Freedom Fields’, ‘Make Your Mark’ and latest release ‘The Granite Way’ and tours with Seth regularly.

Benji has also worked with Oysterband, was a part of the 2017 revival production of Peter Bellamy’s ‘folk opera’,The Transports,alongsideThe Young ‘Uns, Nancy Kerr, Greg RussellandMatthew Crampton,and featured inThe Lady: An homage… to Sandy Denny, a 2012 nationwide tour also featuringMaddy Prior, Thea Gilmore, Dave Swarbrick, Joan as Policewoman, Lavinia Blackwall and PP Arnold.