Thompsonia
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Thompsonia combines Eric & Suzy Thompson’s deep devotion to old-time, Cajun, acoustic blues and bluegrass with daughter Allegra’s fresh perspective, creating feel-good music that richochets between the rowdy and the sentimental, with an abundance of groove and a bit of a quirky edge. The band features the genetically-matched vocals of Suzy and Allegra (Geoff Muldaur has dubbed this “The Everly Sisters sound”) along with stellar lead playing from Eric on mandolin and guitar, Suzy’s red-hot fiddling and Allegra’s rock-steady upright bass.
Thompsonia playing Cajun and other dance music!
"I Don't Drink No Whiskey" filmed in November 2017 at the Deep End Sessions concert series.
 Photo by Irene Young, design by Debbie Berne
Here's our second Thompsonia CD - "Nothing But Rain", rare and unusual old-time tunes and songs from the American south.
"A beautiful and colorful trip through the Thompsons' vast musical world, with the sense of joy and humor that always bubbles under everything they play!" Bruce Molsky Photo credits: Top: Roz Powell; Irene Young; Dinah Di Nova. Bottom: Alan Senauke; David Bragger; Irene Young
Derk Richardson wrote a really nice piece about us on the Peghead Nation Website! Click here to read it.www.pegheadnation.com/news-reviews/recordings/eric-suzy-thompsons-family-affair/
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To order our debut Thompsonia CD from CDBaby, click on the album cover image above. Digital download available too!
3:Prairie Home Companion star Joe Newberry says: “Thompsonia makes the listener feel like the guest of honor at a party!”
In addition to the Cajun, blues and old-time music for which Eric and Suzy have long been acclaimed, the trio also performs witty originals alongside obscurities in styles ranging from rockabilly to hokum to Americana. Standouts from their debut eponymous debut "Thompsonia" CD include Suzy’s acoustic rock anthem “Very Bad Mood” (guaranteed to have just the opposite effect on the listener), Allegra’s bawdy 1920’s “He May Be Your Dog But He’s Wearing My Collar,” Eric’s proto-zydeco “French Fries” and a lovely duet rendition of Hugh Moffatt’s “Rose of My Heart.” Thompsonia's follow-up CD, “Nothing But Rain” focuses on Southern old-time country music, from traditional balladry to country blues to old time novelty numbers.
Dave Alvin says: “Thompsonia sounds like Hazel and Alice had joined forces with Memphis Minnie and recorded with Sam Phillips at Sun Studio.”
Thompsonia's debut album features the genetically-matched vocals of Suzy and Allegra (Geoff Muldaur has dubbed this “The Everly Sisters sound”) with stellar lead playing from Eric on mandolin and guitar; guests include Bill Kirchen on sizzling electric guitar, Cindy Cashdollar on resonator slide guitar, Paul Knight (Peter Rowan Band) on bass, and Jody Stecher, who produced the CD, on a variety of stringed instruments.
About the members of Thompsonia: Eric and Suzy Thompson have performed and recorded in collaborations with David Grisman, David Nelson (New Riders), Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin, Geoff Muldaur, Jim Kweskin, Michael Doucet, Del Rey, Dave Alvin and Joel Savoy, to name just a few, and their bands have included Any Old Time, Black Mountain Boys, California Cajun Orchestra, Blue Flame String Band and many others. Allegra Thompson is the bass player of choice for multiple Bay Area bands, including the Cajun band Midnite Ramblers and the bluegrass band Wendy Burch Steel & Redwood. She is the new host of the Pig in a Pen radio show on KPFA-FM, chosen by Ray Edlund who founded the show 48 years ago. Pig in a Pen airs every other Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Allegra is also a co-host of the "Bluegrass Signal" radio show, which airs on KALW-FM, Saturdays from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
In addition to the Cajun, blues and old-time music for which Eric and Suzy have long been acclaimed, the trio also performs witty originals alongside obscurities in styles ranging from rockabilly to hokum to Americana. Standouts from their debut eponymous debut "Thompsonia" CD include Suzy’s acoustic rock anthem “Very Bad Mood” (guaranteed to have just the opposite effect on the listener), Allegra’s bawdy 1920’s “He May Be Your Dog But He’s Wearing My Collar,” Eric’s proto-zydeco “French Fries” and a lovely duet rendition of Hugh Moffatt’s “Rose of My Heart.” Thompsonia's follow-up CD, “Nothing But Rain” focuses on Southern old-time country music, from traditional balladry to country blues to old time novelty numbers.
Dave Alvin says: “Thompsonia sounds like Hazel and Alice had joined forces with Memphis Minnie and recorded with Sam Phillips at Sun Studio.”
Thompsonia's debut album features the genetically-matched vocals of Suzy and Allegra (Geoff Muldaur has dubbed this “The Everly Sisters sound”) with stellar lead playing from Eric on mandolin and guitar; guests include Bill Kirchen on sizzling electric guitar, Cindy Cashdollar on resonator slide guitar, Paul Knight (Peter Rowan Band) on bass, and Jody Stecher, who produced the CD, on a variety of stringed instruments.
About the members of Thompsonia: Eric and Suzy Thompson have performed and recorded in collaborations with David Grisman, David Nelson (New Riders), Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin, Geoff Muldaur, Jim Kweskin, Michael Doucet, Del Rey, Dave Alvin and Joel Savoy, to name just a few, and their bands have included Any Old Time, Black Mountain Boys, California Cajun Orchestra, Blue Flame String Band and many others. Allegra Thompson is the bass player of choice for multiple Bay Area bands, including the Cajun band Midnite Ramblers and the bluegrass band Wendy Burch Steel & Redwood. She is the new host of the Pig in a Pen radio show on KPFA-FM, chosen by Ray Edlund who founded the show 48 years ago. Pig in a Pen airs every other Sunday from 3:00 to 5:00 pm. Allegra is also a co-host of the "Bluegrass Signal" radio show, which airs on KALW-FM, Saturdays from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Some of our favorite cuts from our CDs:
