Richard Thompson, Eliza Gilkyson
Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Bloomington
Friday, Feb. 23, 8 p.m., $25

In the world of folk-rock, Richard Thompson and Eliza Gilkyson are well-known for their passionate, rich voices, but it’s their lyrics that keep you coming back for more. Both musicians address important issues.

Named by Rolling Stone as one of the Top 20 guitarists of all-time and the recent recipient of both an Ivor Novello Award for songwriting and the 2006 BBC Lifetime Achievement Award, Thompson has been an important figure in the folk genre for four decades. His witty lyrics and his ability to successfully bring the folk guitar style into the realm of electric rock have made him an illustrious figure in the genre.

Gilkyson’s dark, lush voice won her a 2004 Grammy nomination for her album Land of Milk and Honey. Her new album, Paradise Hotel, strikes a more personal note as she explores her own roots of progressive patriotism and comments on current political issues. The album also provides a sense of hope through tracks like “When You Walk On.”

“[Regarding] politics, I was just fed up with the intimidation musicians were experiencing around protesting the initial invasion of Iraq,” Gilkyson says. “I didn’t want to look back on this time in history and regret that I hadn’t exercised my right to free speech. Sometimes ‘protest music’ can be too heavy-handed and rather boring musically, so I worked hard to keep my material lyrically and musically interesting.”

Music is certainly important to Gilkyson. “It gave me an identity — an inner compass,” she says. “I am very lucky. I think music saved my soul!”