John Kirkpatrick kicks off autumn season

Apparently we've now had summer (I blinked and missed it), and this Sunday the Bothy's autumn season opens with the great John Kirkpatrick as the guest. John is a multi-talented performer, being an expert performer of reed instruments (squeeze boxes in popular parlance), a singer of interesting and sometimes unusual folk songs, a lifelong Morris dancer, and in his marginal time has been a composer, choreographer and musical director, contributing to dozens of stage and radio plays.

He is highly regarded as a solo performer, but the list of musicians and singers he has collaborated with reads like a Who's Who of the folk scene for the last half century, so highly is he regarded by his peers. A peek at his impressive gig history will tell you more.

He is not averse to a bit of fun and has twice opened for the Lunchtime Legends (for whom I sing) during Whitby Folk Week when he played rock & roll sets. Despite that setback, he remains one of the stars of the folk scene, although you'd never know it from his unpretentious and friendly manner. It's going be a busy night, so best not arrive late.

That's this Sunday 9 September at the Bothy Folk Club in the Park Golf Club, Park Road West, Southport, PR9 0JS at 8.00pm. Tickets available on-line here. The Park Golf Club serves real Thwaites beer.