John is one of the most prolific figures on the English folk scene, performing solo, in duos, acoustic groups and electric bands, and has established an enviable reputation as an instrumental virtuoso and session musician, as well as a leading interpreter of English folk music. He is currently the voice of Home Service and has been a member of the Albion Country Band, Magic Lantern, The Richard Thompson Band, Umps and Dumps, Steeleye Span, Brass Monkey, Trans-Europe Diatonique, and Band of Hope, as well as numerous ceilidh bands.
He rejoined The Albion Band for The National Theatre productions of "Lark Rise" and "Candleford", and from 1980 has regularly worked on shows at The Victoria Theatre (later The New Victoria Theatre) in North Staffordshire, Orchard Theatre Touring Company based in Devon, and elsewhere. As songwriter, composer, choreographer, and musical director, he has contributed to over sixty plays in the theatre and on radio. And as featured artiste, band member, or session player, his music can be heard on over 200 different commercial recordings.
From 1980 to 1998, John Kirkpatrick was a frequent collaborator in many of the productions at the Victoria Theatre, later the New Victoria Theatre, in North Staffordshire, under its Director, Peter Cheeseman. This is Peter's programme note from their last project together before he retired - "The Tempest”:
"John has worked for many years with us at the old and New Vic, coming in the 70s to work on our Wedgwood documentary 'Plain Jos' and Nigel Bryant's eloquent adaptation of Rosemary Sutcliff's novel 'Song for a Dark Queen’.
John's involvement with folk music began in the church youth club he attended as a boy in London, becoming one of Britain's foremost folk performers, as accordion player, singer and songwriter. He has regularly played as a soloist and has been a member of a number of famous bands such as Steeleye Span, The Albion Band and Brass Monkey. In both capacities he tours all over Britain and Europe.
He is an assiduous researcher in the folk tradition on which his own powerfully rooted compositions are based. Here at the Vic he has helped us stay closely plugged into that marvellous heritage and contributed to many a production from providing simple introductory incidental music to composing complete musical productions like 'Song for a Dark Queen'. I have worked with him on many shows, and especially remember our close involvement together on the documentary, 'The Dirty Hill', John helped to shape, wrote all the songs and also appeared as a singer-narrator. He did a similar job on our recent revival of 'The Jolly Potters'.
John is a very versatile artist, and created the movement for Godber's raunchy night-club comedy, 'Bouncers', as well as the graceful historical dances for shows like 'Plain Jos' and the robust folk dances and songs for our Breton 'Beauty and the Beast'. It would have been very sad for me not to have John Kirkpatrick alongside for this production, and so he is".