Richard Thompson Solo Acoustic

September 16 at 8:00pm

Since co-founding Fairport Convention in 1967, guitarist Richard Thompson has had one of the most decorated careers in music. He’s received an OBE and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the BBC, the Ivor Novellos and Nashville’s Americana awards. LA Times called him “The finest songwriter after Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix”. Rolling Stone named him “one of the Top 20 Guitarists of All Time.”

He was Nick Drake’s guitarist on Five Leaves Left and Bryter Layter. Everyone from Robert Plant, Don Henley and Elvis Costello to REM, Christy Moore and David Bryne have covered his music.

Thompson began his recording career with Fairport Convention in 1967 before leaving in 1971. His first solo record Henry The Human Fly came out the next year, with a woman called Linda Peters appearing on vocals.

She was soon Linda Thompson and together the Thompsons released six albums between 1974 and 1982. The first, I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight, was not critically acclaimed on its release but has since come to be considered a masterpiece. Of it, Q magazine says “Thompson found his ideal foil in Linda. A hugely inventive guitarist, he gives full vent to his talent on this dark, brooding album.” Rolling Stone lists the album as one of the 500 Greatest of All Time.

Throughout the 80s, 90s and 00s, Thompson released one critically acclaimed album after another, amassing generation upon generation of new fans: since Dream Attic (2010), an album described by Paste as containing “some of the most visceral guitar solos of his career” he has had a string of Top 20 albums in the UK, reaching the highest chart positions of his long career. Last year’s 13 Rivers was described by Pop Matters as “a raw, unfiltered affair from a veteran artist who shows no signs of slowing down,” and anyone who has seen him live recently will know what they mean.

Tickets: $43 - $53

Prices include a per ticket handling fee. Tickets are nonrefundable.

This event is eligible for the Youth Arts Access Fund.

On Sale to WC Members: May 23 at 12pm

On Sale to Public: May 31 at 12pm

TICKETS & MORE INFO

Paula Poundstone

September 30 at 8:00pm

Paula Poundstone is known for her smart, observational humor and a spontaneous wit that has become the stuff of legend. Time magazine, in the March 2020 “Best of” issue, listed Paula’s HBO special, Cats, Cops and Stuff as one of The 5 Funniest Stand-Up Specials Ever. Paula can be heard weekly as the host of the comedy podcast, Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone and as a regular panelist on NPR’s comedy news quiz, Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!

Also an author, Poundstone’s second book, The Totally Unscientific Study Of The Search For Human Happiness (Algonquin 2017) was one of eight semi-finalists for The Thurber Prize for American Humor, the highest recognition of the art of humor writing in the United States. The audiobook was one of five finalists for the Audio Book of the Year AUDIE award.

Paula was the first female comic, in its then 73rd year, to perform at the White House Correspondents dinner. She was the first female standup, in its then 5th year, to win the ACE award for Best Comedy Special on Cable television. She is recognized in innumerable lists, documentaries and literary compendiums noting influential standup comedians of our time.

Tickets: $33

Price includes a per ticket handling fee. Tickets are nonrefundable.

This event is eligible for the Youth Arts Access Fund.

On Sale to WC Members: May 23 at 12pm

On Sale to Public: May 31 at 12pm

TICKETS & MORE INFO

BECOME A MEMBER

Click here to View the More Information About Waterville Opera House - Music And Comedy Take the Stage