Benji Kirkpatrick

Benji Kirkpatrick is a singer, songwriter and musician. A key member of folk big band and multiple BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners, Bellowhead, Benji has been performing solo for 25 years. 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 launch of new band ‘Benji Kirkpatrick & The Excess’, a three-piece comprising Pete Flood (also of Bellowhead) on drums and Pete Thomas (Jackie Oates, Megan Henwood) on bass. Pete Flood has now been replaced by Joelle Barker. The roots-based power trio released their debut album ‘Gold Has Worn Away’ on German based label Westpark Music in 2019 with subsequent tours and festival appearances. 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 of the band until 2021, featuring on new album ‘Estd. 1969’ to celebrate 50 years of the band. He is also one third of ‘bloke folk’ trio, ‘Faustus’, along with Paul Sartin and Saul Rose, whose hard-hitting brand of English folk has been hammering the scene for 15 years or so. Benji is a long-term collaborator with Seth Lakeman, featuring on the successful releases ‘Kitty Jay’, ‘Freedom Fields’ and is in the band again, touring with new album ‘Make Your Mark’.