Carus Thompson: 20 Years in Europe/UK Tour & Double Album Launch

Australian folk songwriter and storyteller Carus Thompson returns to the UK to launch not one but two albums: 2019’s Shakespeare Avenue and 2022’s Neon Folk. 

Shakespeare Avenue was recorded in 2019 in Dartmoor, in the South-West of England with Mercury nominated producer Sean Lakeman. The album takes its name from a street in Bath, Somerset where Thompson’s late Grandfather lived, before he left his home for Australia. In the reverse of his Grandfather’s journey, for Shakespeare Avenue Thompson moved his family to Dartmoor to write and record with a new approach that delved further down the folk path, spurred by his connection with good friend Seth Lakeman.

Thompson has opened for Seth Lakeman on four UK tours across the years and when it comes to embracing folk traditions you couldn’t ask for a better guide. Seth, his brother Sean, and Sean’s partner the sublime Kathryn Roberts all feature on Shakespeare Avenue. 

Thompson was set to launch the album with a tour in May 2020, but due to COVID this was cancelled. Thompson was living in Melbourne at the time, which became one of the most locked down cities in the word. So, what does a singer-songwriter do? Make a new record of course. 

Neon Folk was recorded in Perth, Western Australia between the border closures, lockdowns and COVID chaos of 2020 and 2021. Thompson found himself, as did many others, separated from his wife and children for over six months, as many Australian state border were close. This tumultuous time has produced a wonderful record, and themes of determination, hope and surprisingly, positivity run through Neon Folk.

Now it’s with great joy that Thompson is returning to the UK to launch these records and celebrate 20 years of playing his music through Europe and the UK. The UK has given him so much support over the years and he always loves and appreciates playing here. As well as touring with Seth Lakeman, he has opened for The Waifs, John Butler, Pete Murray and Xavier Rudd. 

He’s one of Australia’s most respected singer-songwriters and his performances are renowned for their intimacy, authenticity and vibing folk-rock energy. Come and see why this country has always given him so much support.