John Michael Kirkpatrick (born 8 August 1947) is an English musician, playing free reed instruments such as the button accordion and Anglo concertina, and performing English folk songs and tunes.

In London

John Kirkpatrick was born in Chiswick, London, England. As a child he sang in the choir and played piano. In 1959, he joined the Hammersmith Morris Men, in the second week of their existence, beginning a career-long love of folk music. In 1970, he became a regular at a folk club in the Roebuck pub in Tottenham Court Road and led the resident group, Dingle's Chillybom Band. The club hosted a film show of Morris dancing and Ashley Hutchings turned up. It was the beginning of a long musical relationship. In 1972 he teamed up with Ashley and others on the album Morris On. In 1972, Kirkpatrick recorded his first solo album Jump at the Sun which included Richard Thompson on acoustic guitar (under the pseudonym "Agnes Mirren") and also Ashley Hutchings (as "Humphray de Etchyngham"); among the other backing musicians was future wife Sue Harris on recorder, oboe, and background vocals.

In Shropshire

thumb|The Shropshire Bedlams, including Kirkpatrick (second from left), performing at Towersey in 1980

thumb|John Kirkpatrick (second from right) performing with Sue Harris (=Sue Kirkpatrick) (left), Geoff Harris (right) and Pennie Harris (second from left) at the 1977 Norwich Folk Festival

thumb|John Kirkpatrick (R) and Sue Harris (L), Greenwich, 1982

In 1973, Kirkpatrick moved to Shropshire and married Sue Harris. After seeing a dance team called Gloucestershire Old Spot Morris Dancers, he formed Shropshire Bedlams to perform local dances in the Border Morris style. One of his sons, Benji Kirkpatrick, is a member of Faustus, a former member of Bellowhead and Magpie Lane, and has recorded as a solo guitarist. He has succeeded his father as a member of Steeleye Span. All four of his sons do morris dancing. As a composer, choreographer and musical director, Kirkpatrick has contributed to over 60 plays in the theatre and on radio.

Kirkpatrick was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to folk music.

Discography

;Solo albums

  • Jump at the Sun (1972)
  • Going Spare (1978)
  • Three in a Row (1983)
  • Blue Balloon (1987)
  • Sheepskins (1988)
  • Earthling (1994)
  • One Man and His Box (1999)
  • Mazurka Berzerker (2001)
  • The Duck Race (2004)
  • A Short History of John Kirkpatrick (anthology) (1994)
  • Make No Bones (2 CDs) (2007)
  • Dance of the Demon Daffodils (2009)
  • God Speed the Plough (2011)
  • Every Mortal Place (2013)
  • Tunes from the Trenches (2015)
  • Coat Tails Flying (2017)

;John Kirkpatrick and Sue Harris

  • The Rose of Britain's Isle (1974)
  • Among The Many Attractions at the Show will be a Really High Class Band (1976)
  • Shreds and Patches (1977)
  • Facing the Music (1980)
  • Ballad of the Black Country (1981)
  • Stolen Ground (1989)

;Ashley Hutchings with John Kirkpatrick

  • Morris On (1972)
  • The Compleat Dancing Master (1974)

;John Kirkpatrick and Martin Carthy

  • Plain Capers (1976)

;Kepa Junkera, Riccardo Tesi, John Kirkpatrick

  • Trans-Europe Diatonique (1993)

;John Kirkpatrick, Rosie Cross, Georgina Le Faux, Michael Gregory, Jane Threlfall, Carl Hogsden

  • Wassail! (1997)

;Maddy Prior, John Kirkpatrick, Frankie Armstrong, Nic Jones, Gordeanna McCulloch

  • Ballads (1997)

;John Kirkpatrick and Chris Parkinson

  • Sultans of Squeeze (2005)

;As session musician

  • Henry the Human Fly (Richard Thompson) (1972)
  • I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (Richard and Linda Thompson) (1974)
  • Hokey Pokey (Richard and Linda Thompson) (1975)
  • Pour Down Like Silver (Richard and Linda Thompson) (1975)
  • First Light (Richard and Linda Thompson) (1977)
  • Sunnyvista (Richard and Linda Thompson) (1979)
  • Night Owl (Gerry Rafferty) (1979)
  • My Very Favourite Nursery Rhymes (Tim Hart and Friends) (1981)
  • Hand of Kindness (Richard Thompson) (1983)
  • Daring Adventures (Richard Thompson) (1986)
  • The Crab Wars: A Ballad of the Olden Times, As Remembered by Sid and Henry Kipper (The Kipper Family) (1986)
  • Amnesia (Richard Thompson) (1988)
  • Why Does It Have To Be Me? (Roy Bailey) (1989)
  • Sweet Talker (Richard Thompson) (1991)
  • Rumor and Sigh (Richard Thompson) (1991)
  • The Happiness Counter (Leon Rosselson) (1992)
  • Mirror Blue (Richard Thompson) (1994)
  • More Guitar (Richard Thompson) (2003)
  • Boomerang (Benji Kirkpatrick) (2007)

;Original film soundtrack

  • Rêve de Siam (with Dan Ar Braz) (1992)

;Compilation albums

  • The Rough Guide to English Roots Music (1998, World Music Network)
  • Three Score and Ten (2009, Topic)

The tracks Kirkpatrick performs on in the Three Score and Ten boxed set are "The Rose Of Britain's Isle" / "Glorishears" from the Rose Of Britain's Isle; "The Maid and the Palmer" as part of Brass Monkey; and "George's Son" featuring Brass Monkey from See How it Runs.

References

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