Richard Thompson, one of the true legends of folk rock music, will be performing at the Gate To Southwell Festival in July 2025

A founding member of Fairport Convention back in 1967, Richard Thompson’s 50 year career has confirmed him as an international star and one of Britain’s greatest songwriters and guitarists.  The Los Angeles Times even described him as “the finest rock songwriter after Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix”.

“I’ve tried in vain every year to book Richard and come close on several occasions, but with him being based in the US he’s a hard man to pin down,” said GTSF director Mike Kirrage.  “It’s fantastic that we’ve finally managed to land him.  Fondly remembered for his days with Fairport, he’s regarded as one of the top artists of his generation, a consummate musician and charismatic performer whose solo shows are legendary. Southwell is in for a real treat.”

Thompson’s extraordinary early talent was showcased on the five classic Fairport Convention albums (including ‘Unhalfbricking’ and ‘Liege & Lief’) between 1968 and 1970, his guitar combining beautifully with Sandy Denny’s vocals on tracks such as ‘Autopsy’, ‘Meet On The Ledge’ and the Joni Mitchell cover ‘I Don’t Know Where I Stand’.

Moving on from Fairport, he formed a successful duo with his wife Linda, most famously on ‘I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight’.  He also guested on Nick Drake’s albums ‘Five Leaves Left’ and ‘Bryter Later’, John Martyn’s ‘Solid Air’ and Sandy Denny’s solo releases such as ‘Sandy’ and ‘The North Star Grassman & The Ravens’.  Since then, Richard’s collaborated with everyone from Robert Plant to Nanci Griffith, The Blind Boys of Alabama to Los Lobos, Loudon Wainwright III to Rufus Wainwright, Joan Baez to Suzanne Vega…

He´s released over 30 studio albums himself, including ‘Henry The Human Fly’ back in 1972 and his three Grammy nominated releases ‘Rumour & Sigh’ (1991), ‘You? Me? Us?’ ( 1996) and ‘Dream Attic’ (2010).  Many of his songs have become folk classics, almost standards, such as ‘’1952 Vincent Black Lightning’, ‘Dad’s Gonna Kill Me’, ‘Dimming Of The Day’,  ‘Persuasion’ and the much-covered ‘Beeswing’.

Gate To Southwell Festival 2025 takes place at Kirklington Lakes just outside Southwell (NG22 8NX) in beautiful rural Nottinghamshire from Thursday July 3rd to Sunday July 6th.

For tickets and more information about the best small roots and folk festival in the UK go to www.gtsf.uk