THE idea of a power trio conjures up images of classic Cream or perhaps Rory Gallagher in his prime, but it's not something you'd normally associate with folk musicians.

But former Bellowhead member Benji Kirkpatrick is out to change that with his new venture.

Benji Kirkpatrick and the Excess will be making their public debut at Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre in a fortnight's time.

"I probably would see it like a power trio," he said. "This is an approach I've wanted to take for some time, to approach my songs in a slightly rockier and slightly harder hitting kind of way."

With the new venture, Benji is reuniting with former Bellowhead drummer Pete Flood and bassist Pete Thomas.

"Pete Flood and I have worked together but neither of us had worked with the other Pete before. The first time the two Petes met was at our first rehearsal.

"But the whole thing has come together brilliantly, We're just desperate to get out there and gig it now."

As well as being part of folk juggernaut Bellowhead, Benji has worked with the likes of Seth Lakeman and is one third of the folk trio Faustus alongside Paul Sartin and Saul Rose.

"My solo career goes way before Bellowhead but the experience we had there fills you with more confidence and experience which is invaluable," said Benji.

"I think the ideal for me is to have the trio and Faustus as the two main things.

"I've also got other bits of work which I have to take on so I'm doing lots of different bits and piece which are all interesting and exciting in different ways.

"I think that variety within music industry is essential and it's what makes it interesting.

"I do love doing different things."

In the past Benji has been involved in the Bendrix project in which he reworked the songs of Jimi Hendrix to mark the 45th anniversary of the guitarist's death so will the new live show feature a couple of classics?

"Hendrix may creep in a little bit," he said, "but the whole idea of the project was to completely strip it back and to approach the songs in a different way. But the trio setting is very much the way he did things originally. "

As well as taking the trio out live, Benji is working toward an album release next year.

"I have been writing new material specifically for the trio," he said, "and for the live set I'm quite pleased that the ratio is quite high for new material to older stuff. There is pretty much an album's worth there already.

"I think we've got a good range of material together for the live shows. For the first shows I suppose there will be a little bit of pressure there but this is very exciting a new adventure.

"I'm very used to doing songs that I write on my own so putting them into a band setting is very exciting."

Benji Kirkpatrick and the Excess, Barnoldswick Music and Arts Centre, Friday, July 14. Details from 01282 813374 or www.barnoldswick musicandartscentre.com