For two decades globe-trotting Aussie troubadour Carus Thompson has toured the world alongside The John Butler Trio, The Waifs, Xavier Rudd, Jack Johnson & Pete Murray. He’s sold over 30,000 albums along the way and been called “a treasure in the Australian musical landscape” (The Dwarf).

A favourite of the UK folk scene after multiple tours opening for his good friend Seth Lakeman, Thompson returns to launch his new album Neon Folk with a short tour in January 2024. We present “London Coffee” - the single from Neon Folk. 

“London Coffee” is a song dedicated in loving memory to Australian singer-songwriter Mick Hart, who tragically passed away in 2020. Hart and Thompson were good friends, touring the UK and Europe a lot together, forging a path for themselves as independent, down to earth, “can I please sleep on your couch” acoustic artists. The song’s a window into that life; it’s intensity but also the connections made:

“in and out of bars, late nights and cars, friends who gave us all we own”

Hart gave Thompson his first gig in London, and the lyrics sing of a London coffee they had together one morning on tour. It’s a tribute to Hart, but also a tribute to all the independent, un-backed artists who have headed off on the road to try and get their music heard.

London Coffee

A Folk-Country-Rocker backed by a wonderful string quartet arranged and conducted by Georgia Fields. A love song using the metaphor of early Australian explorers futile search for the fabled "inland sea". My wife's favourite track off my album Caravan.

Inland Sea

Another string quartet backed one. One of my proudest musical moments. Inspired in a way by the story of Juilan Assange

Whistleblower

Creature Of Habit

A Country Tune off my first album from 2002 I think - Songs From Martin St. Featuring the legendary Charlie Owen (Beast Of Bourbon, The Divinyls) on steel guitar

Cup A Tea

Burn

From my first EP, only ever sold at gigs. Release 2000. Feature Lucky Oceans (Grammy Award Winner) on pedal steel guitar. For the real country lovers. A song about returning to the Aboriginal town of Peppimenarti in the Northern Territory. A town I grew up in as a child as the only white child there. Very beautiful place. Slim Dusty wrote a song about it called "The Plains Of Peppimenarti"

Plains

From my first live release ACOUSTIC AT THE NORFOLK from 2002. It's funny I just flew by the seat of my pants for this recording but it ended up being my most popular release, selling around 10,000 between Australia and Europe. Put me on the map in OZ and got me touring with John Butler, Jack Johnson, Dave Mathews, The Waifs, Pete Murray and a whole bunch more

01 Tall Buildings

A cover of a David Lane song, a wonderful songwriter from Sydney, Australia. From my Acoustic At The Norfolk live album (Vol1)

07 You Were Gone

1 - 06 Sweet Place

A song inspired by Australian hero Peter Norman who came second in the 1968 Mexico Olympics and took part in a famous demonstration for civil rights. Check out the film Salute or google him - an incredible human being 

08 Bright Star

Carus Thompson proudly presents his first new track in five years, the dark summer single ‘Beach Fires’ from his forthcoming album ‘Island’. 

‘Beach Fires’ was co-written with Island’s producer Joel Quartermain, the production force behind Australian powerhouse Meg Mac, writer of many chart topping hits with iconic rock band Eskimo Joe and collaborator on singles for Dan Sultan and Dustin Tebbutt.

The exciting pairing has yielded a massive artistic leap for Carus, one of this country’s hardest working singer-songwriters.

Like an Australian Springsteen or Mellencamp telling engaging and intelligent stories through song, in ‘Beach Fires’ Carus paints a vivid lyrical picture of escape, breaking out, leaving an imploding town behind and starting anew. Beneath the breezy summer vibes lies the story of a small town ravaged by the ice epidemic: a biting social commentary delivered by one of Australia's finest storytellers.

Beach Fires

Reza Barati was a 23 year old Iranian asylum seeker who was killed on the 17th February 2014 during a night of unrest at the Australian run Manus Island Regional Processing Centre in Papua New Guinea.  I'm deeply ashamed of the way my country treats asylum seekers and I hope one day soon we can change. This song is off my Island album.

Reza Barati

01 Crash Land

"When I Think Of You" recorded as part of 'Acoustic At The Norfolk - Volume 2'.
Recorded live over two very hot nights at The Norfolk Basement Lounge, Fremantle, Western Australia on Friday 27th & Saturday 28th January, 2012
 
Carus Thompson: Vocals, Guitar
Christian Thompson: Vocals
Mo Wilson: Piano
Adam Gare: Mandolin & Violin

Buy the album online

Carus Thompson - When I Think Of You - Acoustic At The Norfolk Vol 2

"I Believe In Love" by Carus Thompson from his 2011 album 'Caravan'.
Available as an independent release through iTunes or on CD from http://carus.musicplug.me

Thanks for the support to all who listen and comment!



I Believe In Love - Carus Thompson

"Eye of the Storm" by Carus Thompson from the album "Creature Of Habit"
Released Independently in Australia & Germany in 2009 & 2010.

Available on iTunes or on CD from http://carus.musicplug.me

Thanks for the support!



Eye of the Storm - Carus Thompson

"Red Sky" the opening track to Carus Thompsons album "Caravan" released independently in 2011.
Featuring UK folk hero Seth Lakeman on strings. 

REVIEW:
Review score: 9/10
"Caravan has what I consider to perhaps be one of the greatest opening songs to any album I have heard of late. "Red Sky" is a truly beautiful song, with beautiful lyricism and a wonderful darting fiddle courtesy of British folk star Seth Lakeman. The marrying of acoustic guitar and fiddle form the perfect accompaniment for Carus' vocals, a simple backing, but a powerful one nonetheless, with guitar and fiddle building to an emphatic crescendo which still continues to leave me breathless."
http://www.theaureview.com/albums/carus-thompson-caravan-2011-lp

Carus Thompson: Vocals & Acoustic
Seth Lakeman: Strings

Buy the album from http://carus.musicplug.com.au

Thanks for the support!

Red Sky - Carus Thompson (featuring Seth Lakeman)

Recorded live in Fremantle on a very hot weekend night in February 2012 at the Norfolk Basement Lounge in Fremantle, WA, Australia. 

From the album 'Acoustic at the Norfolk - Volume 2'

Thankyou to all who take the time to listen and support an independent artist!

Lyrics Copyright: Carus Thompson 2008

Everyone's hurt someone,
Drove a hundred miles today,
Hit the water, it washed me clean,
Between the wreckage and remains,
And the kids somersault on the beach in Burnie,
The winds never been at our backs,
and i love you for the rest of my life.

Hitch hiking his way to Devonport,
Sell the d.v.d for medicine,
Foster parents, left him with nothing,
He's got no past and no name.
And the kids somersault on the beach in Burnie,
The winds never been at our backs,
and i love you for the rest of my life.

The dice is rolling in,
Me i'm still just a kid.
When my friend and i talk of 'now',
Today feels like i got it figured out,
Do your best to make a sound,
Mistakes and wrong turns allowed.

Buy the CD online!

For The Rest Of My Life - Carus Thompson

Live version of song "Last Days Of Winter" from Acoustic At The Norfolk Volume II, featuring my brother Christian Thompson on harmonies. Original version was a country-rocker off early album THREE BOXES

Last Days Of Winter (live) - Carus Thompson

This was the first single of my last studio album CARAVAN. It's a great way to end sets - a good 'ol pub rocker! 

Popular tracks by Carus Thompson