It is safe to say without the risk of upsetting anyone that John Kirkpatrick has been around for a long time. His musical life stretches back to the period of folk-rock and the hippification of English traditional music (he was in Steeleye Span for a time from 1977–1978). It is also safe to say that John Kirkpatrick has never been subsumed into the folk-rock canon, but has securely sat outside it, sometimes alongside but much more in, and of, his own path.
His music entered our house all those years ago and every now and then an album of his would spring to mind and I will pull it out and give it a play. There is, however, one album that comes out regularly once a year that has us singing – and perhaps even dancing – around the (metaphorical) Christmas Tree. That album is Carolling and Crumpets, a bright and charming view of Christmas with a collection of traditional and traditional-esque songs.
During this time of year the ever busy John Kirkpatrick takes his accordions and concertinas round the country, dispensing Yuletide cheer with songs and tunes from the album and I got to see him in the market town of Rothwell in Northamptonshire. The venue, a small Methodist Chapel with a wooden panelled stage was warm, as was the host and the audience. In fact, it was all very comfortable: tables and chairs, drinks and nibbles.
In her biography All in the Downs, Shirley Collins wrote how she thought that John Kirkpatrick was the only person that could match Davy Stewart in singing Bogie’s Bonnie Belle ‘straightforwardly’. And how right; that is just it. There are no airs, no graces, just a man and his instrument, a few stories and a set of good songs. John Kirkpatrick is a very easy chap to watch and to listen to.
Looking around the room it was clear to see that, like us, there were many who knew the words. Most of the songs have stories attached to them, such as The Great Christmas Pud. This is, in fact, his mother’s recipe, one that has been handed down to her from her mother. The chorus is partly taken from a more sacred work, and part gleeful appreciation and anticipation
Stir up oh Lord we beseech thee,
the fruits of the earth in our pot,
cos that great Christmas pud,
it will do us all good
and come Christmas we’ll scoff up the lot
Carolling and Crumpets, the song, is a version of the story of the Nativity. It is told from the point of view of the cattle into whose shed Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus come and are soon joined by various angels, cherubim, seraphim, shepherds and wise men. We hear what the cows thought of all that.
John’s skill on the various squeeze boxes is second to none. Fingers fly across keys and buttons as bellows are pushed and pulled; I have enough of a problem coordinating two hands on a piano, how people manage these instruments is beyond my understanding. Not content with a sparkling Pantomime Schottische, The Bells are played, indeed wrung from the button accordion in great swirls, the instrument circling the air, notes chiming as the bells of Christmas ring out for us.
John Kirkpatrick’s Carolling and Crumpets solo Christmas Show continues until the 21st December. However, if you are too busy this year, I see on his website that he is already booked for some dates in December 2019. An excellent antidote to the perpetual Wizzard and Slade drummed into shoppers ears this time of year. Ho! Ho! Ho!
More details here https://www.johnkirkpatrick.co.uk/gigs.asp