Benji Kirkpatrick - People

Benji Kirkpatrick is most often seen as a member of Bellowhead, who have had a busy couple of years on the back of numerous Folk Awards and huge critical interest. But this fretboard wizard (Time Out) has managed to find some time to attend to his solo career and has been recording an album for release in spring 2008, with assistance from Stu Hanna of Megson. The first fruits of his labours are presented here on an EP timed to coincide with an Autumn touring schedule that will see him out supporting Seth Lakeman (whose albums he also plays on).Benji is also is one third of Faustus, along with fiddle and oboe ace Paul Sartin and Waterson;Carthy member Saul Rose. Faustus is the new incarnation of Dr Faustus, who released two albums on Fellside Records, 'The First Cut' in 2003 and 'Wager' in 2005 and received a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nomination in 2004. Rumours are rife of new material from Faustus as well, so if Benji isn't busy enough, he soon will be.