One of the most enduring and distinctive figures in British folk rock, Richard Thompson, will perform at Monroe’s on Sunday, July 27, as part of the Galway International Arts Festival.
Doors open at 8pm with special guests Ger O'Donnell and Trevor Sexton.
Thompson’s career stretches back to the late 1960s when, as a teenager, he co-founded the pioneering band Fairport Convention. The bringing together of traditional British folk with electric rock laid the foundation for a genre that would influence generations.
After leaving Fairport in 1971, Thompson released his first solo album, Henry the Human Fly, and together with his then-wife Linda, they recorded several albums, including I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight and Shoot Out the Lights, now widely regarded as classics.
A masterful guitarist and lyricist, Thompson’s solo career has spanned more than five decades. His work has earned him a Grammy nomination, an Ivor Novello Award for songwriting, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from BBC Radio.
In 2011, he was appointed OBE for services to music. His ballad, ‘1952 Vincent Black Lightning’, was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 greatest songs in the English language.
His 2021 memoir, Beeswing: Losing My Way and Finding My Voice, 1967–1975, offered a candid account of his early years in music.
Hailed as the finest rock songwriter after Dylan, and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix, this is a unique opportunity to see an artist who was named by Rolling Stone as one of the Top 100 guitarists of all time.
Special guests on the night are acclaimed Irish duo Ger O’Donnell and Trevor Sexton. Their live performances are a masterclass in acoustic folk, with storytelling and a touch of humour.
O’Donnell is a multi-talented musician, composer, and arranger with a background in classical flute, fife, rock, and strings. He has achieved multiple chart successes, including the No. 1 hits ‘Turquoise Ink’ and ‘Talk About the Heroes’.
Sexton, a gifted singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Co Limerick, has performed at prestigious venues such as Cork Opera House, Vicar Street, and the UL Concert Hall.
Join Richard Thompson and guests at Monroe’s Live on Sunday, July 27, from 8pm. Tickets €40 from www.monroes.ie
