DC’s top blog for live concert reviews
Billy Bragg (Photo by Jacob Blickenstaff)
Inspired by Billy Bragg’s recent Mother’s Day video release for his song “Can’t Be There Today,” City Winery and Billy are co-producing a special multi-artist Mother’s Day concert that will be broadcast on YouTube on Sunday, May 10.
Richard Thompson (center) participates in A Winding Road: A Ramble with Richard Thompson on May 11, 2019, in Montclair, New Jersey. (Photo by Neil Grabowsky)
“So,” I asked after sitting down at The Birchmere recently, “how long have you been in the cult?”
Without asking what I meant, one of the men sitting across the table from me responded, “I was getting Richard and Linda Thompson import records from England in the 70s.”
“I came to it later,” said the other.
Patterson Hood performs at Pearl Street Warehouse on Dec. 7, 2018, in one of the best shows of the year. (Photo by Paivi Salonen)
Editor’s Note: This year, we asked our bloggers to name their Top 10 shows of 2018 or choose their Top 10 photos of the year. We will run them over the course of mid-December as our Best of the Year posts.
Mark Engleson, a man who truly loves live Americana, folk, and country, chose his Top 10 concerts of 2018 for Parklife DC.
Richard Thompson performs during the Under the Stars Festival in Cawthorne, England, on July 27, 2014. (Photo by Bryan Ledgard)
As a music writer, I see a lot of concerts. And I can say honestly say that from the opening act to the second encore, British folk rocker Richard Thompson’s concert Thursday night at the Lincoln Theatre was among the very best I have ever seen.
Richard Thompson (Photo courtesy New West Records)
The Legendary Richard Thompson released 13 Rivers, his 18th studio album, on Sept. 14 via New West Records. He’s on tour with an electric trio, and he performs at the Lincoln Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 8.
Glen Hansard (Photo courtesy Sacks & Co.)
Irish folk singer Glen Hansard is well-regarded for his groundbreaking role and performance in the movie Once, and thereafter as half of The Swell Season, and he recently released his second solo album, Didn’t He Ramble, via Anti- Records.
The new album has received very good reviews, with Rolling Stone comparing Glen to another Irish great: “Didn’t He Ramble evokes a feeling similar to one of Van Morrison’s Celtic-soul fever dreams, burnishing the prevailing sense of romantic fatalism with some low-key bravado on the standout track ‘Winning Streak’ (a kissing cousin to Bob Dylan’s early-Seventies’ chestnut ‘Forever Young’).”
Glen is touring in support of the new album, and he makes a stop in DC this Saturday, Nov. 28, at DAR Constitution Hall. (Hey, St. Louis, he’s at The Pageant tonight!)
Watch the official video for “Her Mercy” from the new album on YouTube:
Don’t miss out on what is certain to be a moving show as Glen and his voice are at the top of their game. British folk artist Richard Thompson opens for Glen!
Glen Hansard
w/ Richard Thompson
DAR Constitution Hall
Saturday, Nov. 28
Show @8pm
$38
All ages
