Richard Thompson to Open Prescott Park Arts Festival

Prescott Park Arts Festival officials released their 2013 River House Restaurant Concert Series line-up of artists that will grace the Main Stage this summer beginning with British folk rock legend Richard Thompson.

According to Ben Anderson, the PPAF's executive director, Thompson will kick off the concert season on June 30. The Prescott Park Arts Festival's website says that Thompson was "named one of the Rolling Stone Magazine's Top 20 Guitarists of all-time, and a recent recipient of the BBC Lifetime Achievement Award."

The PPAF website also said that Thompson's acoustic solor concert will feature material from latest album, "Electric," that he released in 2013.

Anderson also said the PPAF will also bring the up and coming West Coast Indie Folk Pop group, the Head and the Heart, to Portsmouth, on Wednesday, July 31.

"The impeccable, sweet-voiced folk-pop songs of this band have been capturing every ear in the music scene. Famous for their self-released debut album The Head and the Heart – fans are looking forward to their new material to be performed at our very own Prescott Park," the PPAF webside reads.

Anderson said that Judy Collins will return to the PPAF on Aug. 7 with special guest Ari Hest. According to the PPAF website, other bands and artists that will perform this summer include: Spirit Family Reunion (Wednesday, August 28), voted Most-Wanted-to-Return, Lake Street Dive (Wednesday, July 3), Americana Music Awards winner, Justin Townes Earle (Wednesday, July 10), Grammy Award winning sensations, Carolina Chocolate Drops (Wednesday, July 17), New Orleans’ brightest young star, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue (Friday, July 26), pop/folk artist Dar Williams (August 14), Grammy nominated Cajun and Zydeco artists Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole (Saturday, August 10), and Canadian folk rock hero, Bruce Cockburn (Sunday, September 1).

The PPAF's summer musical "Annie" will also begin its run with opening night on Friday, June 28, according to the festival's website.

Tables on the Federal Savings Bank VIP Seating Deck are available for reservations starting Thursday, May 9 through Prescott Park’s website, in addition to the blanket reservations in front of the FairPoint Communications Main Stage. Special discount pricing is available for Festival members. All reservations can be made through the Festival’s website at: www.prescottpark.org.