Benji Kirkpatrick

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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. His latest solo album ‘In Phase’, released in autumn 2023, features all original songs
written between 2020 and 2022. Lauded releases such as ‘Boomerang’ (2008) and ‘Hendrix
Songs’ (2015) – an album of acoustic re-interpretations of the work of Jimi Hendrix – have
punctuated his exploits over the years alongside extensive work with others. 2019 saw the
release of ‘Gold Has Worn Away’ on German based label Westpark Music, the only release
from Benji’s then band ‘Benji Kirkpatrick & The Excess’; a roots-based power trio comprising
of Pete Thomas (Jackie Oates, Megan Henwood) on bass and Joelle Barker (Edwin Starr band,
Del Camino) on drums. Pete Flood, also of Bellowhead, occupied the drum seat until 2022.

Benji was head-hunted by folk-rock pioneers, Steeleye Span in 2017 (40 years after his dad,
John, was in the band) and was a member until 2021, featuring on their 50th anniversary album
‘Est’d. 1969’. He was one third of ‘bloke-folk’ trio, Faustus, along with Paul Sartin and Saul
Rose, whose hard-hitting brand of English folk hammered its mark onto the scene until the
untimely and tragic death of Paul in 2022.

Benji is a long-term collaborator with Seth 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, alongside The Young 'Uns, Nancy Kerr, Greg Russell
and Matthew Crampton, and featured in The Lady: A Homage to Sandy Denny, a 2012
nationwide tour also featuring Maddy Prior, Thea Gilmore, Dave Swarbrick, Joan as
Policewoman, Lavinia Blackwall and PP Arnold.

Benji  is as happy in small grassroots venues as in front of a thousands-strong crowd.