Benji Kirkpatrick (Bellowhead, Steeleye Span, Seth Lakeman, Faustus) and Ray Cooper (Oysterband) come together for a unique double-headline bill. One night only!
Benji and Ray have collaborated in the past as members of the award-winning Big Session and also at the Shrewsbury Folk Festival as part of John Jones' Rising Road.
As well as playing their own sets they will for the first time also play together as a duo.
Ray Cooper, a.k.a. Chopper, is a story based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist living in Sweden. Previously with Oysterband, Ray has released 5 solo albums and completed over 40 solo international tours.
On stage Ray sings and plays cello, guitar, mandolin, piano
and harmonica. Ray's latest album 'Even For A Shadow', released in 2024, was
nominated for album of the year for the German music critics prize. 'Preis der
deutschen Schallplattenkritik'.
Ray's music straddles folk, americana, world, rock and the singer-songwriter tradition, drawing on his wide experience in all these areas, from playing ceilidh music or rocking out on festival stages with Oysterband, to playing Swedish folk music in the local Sörmland tradition where he lives.
“Even For A Shadow is a sublime singer-songwriter album from Ray Cooper, ... this music has the always relevant attitude, with many a melody to burn.” Folking.com
