Cutty Sark concert: Richard Thompson - solo, acoustic performance

About Richard Thompson

Richard Thompson’s musical influence cannot be overstated. Having co-founded the groundbreaking group Fairport Convention as a teenager in the ‘60s, he and his bandmates invented the distinctive strain of British Folk Rock. He had left the group by the age of 21, which was followed by a decade-long musical partnership with his then-wife Linda, and over 30 years as a highly successful solo artist.

The Los Angeles Times called him “the finest rock songwriter after Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix” and Rolling Stone has named him one of the Top 100 Guitarists of All Time. He has received lifetime achievement awards for songwriting from the BBC Radio 2 Awards, the Americana Music Association, and was awarded the prestigious Ivor Novello Award. His song 1952 Vincent Black Lightning was named one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Greatest Songs Since 1923”. 

A wide range of musicians have recorded Thompson’s songs including Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, R.E.M., Bonnie Raitt, Tom Jones, David Byrne, and many more. His genre-defying mastery of both acoustic and electric guitar, along with engaging energy and onstage wit, continue to earn him new fans and a place as one of the most distinctive virtuosos and writers in Folk Rock history.