Gig - Richard Thompson

I wrote last month in the Viva Lewes Handbook that Richard Thompson had a ‘vast cult following’ all over the world, which led to a query from the sub-editor. Can a cult following be ‘vast’? I argued, and won, my case. In Richard Thompson’s case, it can. The guitarist, who started out with Fairport Convention and then hatched out a successful solo career, has never been a household name. But he is hugely respected by millions of guitar cognoscenti. His albums rarely chart, but he keeps on making them, and they keep on selling. His song ‘1952 Vincent Black Lightning’ is the most requested song on US National Public Radio. When Rolling Stone Magazine had a vote on the top 100 guitarists of all time, Richard came in 19th. It is a very very big coup for the Lewes Guitar Festival to have him headlining the event.

And it looks pretty good on the CV to be supporting him, as well. Footing the Big Top bill tonight is John Redfern, a Brighton-based folkie influenced by everyting from prog rock to jazz. Next up is Kate Walsh, a sweet-voiced acoustic singer-songwriter from Brighton, whose debut album, Tim’s House, made number 1 in the i-Tunes chart, and whose myspace song plays number into the hundreds of thousands. Her metaphorical style adds an extra layer to the sound. Two intelligent female singer-songwriters start the day off in the Gun Garden (‘the nicest place I’ve ever played’ according to Wednesday’s performer John Smith): classically trained Emily Macguire and Jill Barber, all the way from Nova Scotia. AL