Richard Thompson Announces New Power Trio

Thompson tells Billboard.com, is that he's recording with a trio that includes his regular rhythm section of bassist Taras Prodaniuk and drummer Michael Jerome. "We've being doing a few things as a three-piece, some local California things, a commando-raid type band," Thompson explains. "It doesn't require a lot of setting up, there's a minimal crew, we can jump into a van and do our thing. So I've been writing for that lineup, which has been kind of inspiring." 

Thompson says he has "an album's worth" of material ready and describes it as "sort of folk-rock power trio music, somewhere between the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Peter, Paul & Mary -- the two great trio blueprints."

Thompson is also gearing up for Fairport Convention's 45th anniversary celebration at this year's Cropredy Festival, which the band has hosted in early August each year since 1976. "I think a lot of the old band are coming," says Thompson, who plans to play a solo show as well as with Fairport Convention. "I hope everybody who's still above ground will be there. It coincides this year with the Olympics, which is a logical disaster. Many festivals in the U.K. are canceled this summer because the Olympics have taken every portable toilet in northern Europe, but Fairport is on a three-year lease, so we're carrying on." 

(Billboard)