Richard Thompson has announced a new album, Hippies, Thugs and Heroes, which will be out October 16 via New West. “You look over the body of songs you’ve written and ask yourself, which ones are kindred spirits,” he says of the album. “You look for commonality among the songs, and it’s also a joy when you realize that certain songs seem to be brothers and sisters.”
The first single from the album is “Cocaine Walking, Booze Talking,” a nuanced rocker full of his signature guitar-work and vivid wordplay. Watch the lyric video below.
Richard Thompson has UK dates in August and a few US shows, including Monclair, NJ’s Outpost in the Burbs’ Concert for Toni’s Kitchen on November 21 with Zara Phillips also on the bill.
Hippies, Thugs and Heroes:
1. Sorcerer’s Apprentice
2. Cocaine Walking, Booze Talking
3. Pauper’s Grave
4. Unsung Hero
5. Make Believe You Don’t Know Me
6. She Burns It All
7. Everybody’s Stealing
8. The Soul In Me
9. Pipe Dreams
10. The Big Smoke
11. Stringer
12. Siren
Richard Thompson 2026 Tour Dates:
August 2 – Cambridge Folk Festival 2026 – Cambridge, United Kingdom
August 14 – Fairport Cropredy Convention 2026 – Banbury, United Kingdom
August 21 – St Georges Church Hall – Beckenham, United Kingdom
August 22 – FolkEast 2026 -Beccles, United Kingdom
August 23 – Beautiful Days 2026 – Ottery St Mary, United Kingdom
September 4 – Buxton Opera House – Buxton, United Kingdom
September 10 – Lighthouse Poole, United Kingdom
September 11 – Subscription Rooms Stroud, United Kingdom
September 12 – Bromyard Folk Festival 2026 Bromyard, United Kingdom
September 13 – Wiltshire Music Centre -Bradford-on-Avon, United Kingdom
November 20 – Elkton Music Hall – Elkton, MD, United States
November 21 – Outpost in the Burbs’ Concert for Toni’s Kitchen – Montclair, NJ, United States