Richard Thompson OBE opens Warwick Folk Festival

Richard Thompson OBE. Photo courtesy of Warwick Folk Festival.

Singer, songwriter, guitarist Richard Thompson OBE opened the main Warwick Folk Festival in the grounds of Warwick Castle this weekend. The Festival runs from 24 - 27 July 2025 in and around Warwick town.

Review by Barbara Goulden.

Some musicians don't improve with age - unlike Richard Thompson who despite recently cracking a few ribs, appears to get better and better.  Yesterday (24 March) the 76-year-old was the star act at the opening of the four-day Warwick Folk Festival where he packed the main marquee performing new and classic songs like the emotional 1952 Vincent Black Lightning, Gethsemane, a saucy sea shanty and Pharaoh.  

Richard apologised for having to sit down to play although all was forgiven when for an encore, he gave the audience what many had long been waiting to hear: Beeswing. The master songwriter's distinctive voice remains as strong as ever while his meticulous guitar playing is internationally regarded as simply incomparable. 

Thompson was just 18 when he joined folk band Fairport Convention back in 1967 before leaving to play solo gigs and at one stage becoming a successful duo with his first wife Linda Thompson. 

On stage on Thursday, he first joked that his cracked ribs were a result of falling off his motor bike. Later, after things had warmed up a bit and he was joined on stage to sing several numbers with his third wife, Zara Phillips, the veteran performer ruefully admitted he'd actually fallen down the stairs. 

Zara teased him about their age differences – and having to sit down to sing - before they harmonised over one of his cracking newer songs: "She Twists The Knife Again." It was a great start to what appears to be almost a sell-out festival in the grounds of Warwick Castle. 

Still to come at the festival are Le Vent du Nord on Friday, Kate Rusby on Saturday, Martin Simpson on Sunday, local singer-songwriter Keith Donnelly and more from madcap traditionalist musicians Granny's Attic.  This is to name but a few. 

The bad news is it might be hard to get tickets. The good news is if you can't get into the castle grounds you will find free fringe events in the streets and pubs all around Warwick town centre which bring this ancient market town to life. 

There's usually brilliant performances in Smith Street as well as the Market Square where the chink of bells on the legs of Morris Dancers arriving from all over the country rings out on practically every street corner.  

For more information and tickets where available, please go to: https://warwickfolkfestival.co.uk/