In 1959, he joined the Hammersmith Morris Men, in the second week of their existence, beginning a career-long love of folk music.

In 1970, he became a regular at a folk club in the Roebuck pub in Tottenham Court Road and led the resident group, Dingle's Chillybom Band.

In 1972, Kirkpatrick recorded his first solo album Jump at the Sun which included Richard Thompson on acoustic guitar.

In 2009, he appeared in the BBC series, Victorian Farm, which was set in Acton Scott in Shropshire, performing traditional country songs such as "The Farmer's Boy".

[1] Kirkpatrick appearing on the albums Storm Force Ten and Live at Last;[1] in concert with them, he would perform solo morris dances.

He recorded with Pere Ubu, Viv Stanshall, Jack the Lad, Gerry Rafferty, Maddy Prior and others.

Two more albums with Sue Harris appeared in 1981, but the constant touring, as a duo and as part of other groups, was putting a strain on the marriage.

In 1988, he and Sue published Opus Pocus, a collection of many of their own compositions from the previous 20 years, and a selection of some of the (then) more obscure traditional English tunes which had influenced them.

In 1979, Kirkpatrick had appeared in the National Theatre Company's stage show Lark Rise to Candleford together with Carthy and trumpeter Howard Evans.

Kirkpatrick was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2021 New Year Honours for services to folk music.