Search - John Kirkpatrick :: Force of Habit

Maybe it's hard to think of a button accordion and concertina player as a star, but that's precisely what John Kirkpatrick is in some quarters. For well over two decades, he's mined the seam of English traditional music, most specifically the Morris dance tunes, in many ways: as part of the Morris On troupe, a member of Steeleye Span and Brass Monkey, and also leading his own bands. This, a live album recorded in 1995, is real folk-rock, with the emphasis on the folk. Apart from being a highly accomplished instrumentalist, Kirkpatrick also happens to be a very good singer, able to wring the nuances from an old song, as he does to great effect on the epic "Oakham Poachers." With him is some stellar talent from the folk-rock field, who offer precisely the kind of support he needs to make this particular dream a reality. It's well worth remembering that most of this is meant to be dance music, and if you don't find yourself wanting to move about, better check that pulse to make sure you're still alive. --Chris Nickson