Cropredy is a-coming and the news is dropping fast. Friday’s bill-topper – the man that the Los Angeles Times has tagged “The finest rock songwriter after Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix” has a new album in the pipeline. Richard Thompson will be releasing Hippies, Thugs and Heroes on 16th October.

GOOD NEWS, GOOD NEWS CAME TO WE IN OUR SLEEP

As we’ve been reminding everyone on a fairly regular basis for the past few months, Fairport’s Cropredy Convention 2026 will be taking place in just a few days time and, as we’re sure you’re aware by now, Friday evening’s hot spot will be taken by none other than the great Richard Thompson – with Zara Phillips, Dave Pegg, Simon Nicol and Dave Mattacks in close attendance. Now that news is good enough in its own right, but – as it happens – it gets better!

And that’s because, on 16th October, Richard will be releasing a new album: Hippies, Thugs and Heroes – his first since 2024’s excellent and mightily-acclaimed Ship To Shore.

We have it on good authority that Hippies, Thugs And Heroes is an album that never settles into one style, mood or setting. Instead, it showcases the many aspects of Richard’s talent – whether as a songwriter, a singer, a guitarist or a bandleader. The songs feature a motley cast of characters – old friends and false gurus, beloved musicians and former selves along with, as the album title suggests, hippies, thugs and heroes. Taking a creator’s overview, Richard says: “You look over the body of songs you’ve written and ask yourself: ‘Which ones are kindred spirits?’ You look for commonality among the songs, and it’s also a joy when you realise that certain songs seem to be brothers ans sisters.”

COCAINE WALKING, BOOZE TALKING

The tasters of what Richard has in store are starting to leak out, the first of which, lead single Cocaine Walking, Booze Talking has just appeared. Richard describes the song as: “A hardscrabble tale of folks hustling in London – a ‘carousel queen,’ overwhelmed by the big city and a soldier quoting Shakespeare amongst them.” A nice, descending, guitar figure leads the way in to the song’s grinding, punchy theme. It couldn’t be anyone other than RT, of course, and this is Richard at his black-jokey, cynical best as he spits out lines like: “And who will win the battle, before the nurse pulls the plug? The King’s Road hippie or the Sauchiehall thug?” Richard’s signature fluid guitar is present and correct, if perhaps more restrained than usual. But, when the solos do break out, they’re life-affirming.

Every Richard Thompson album is a cause for celebration. Hippies, Thugs and Heroes will be no exception to that golden rule. We guarantee it.

Watch the official lyric video to Cocaine Walking, Booze Talking below:

Richard Thompson: Website

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