Richard Thompson

Kicking off the Lowell Summer Music Festival, which this year features performances by Lucinda Williams and Daryl Hall (he's apparently giving poor John Oates a night off), is Richard Thompson, who was named one of the world's best guitarists by Rolling Stone. Opening for Thompson will be Bob Martin, a folk-rocker from Lowell, who played at Club Passim in the 1960s (it was called Club 47 back then) and has opened for Merle Haggard. 7:30 p.m. $25. Boarding House Park, 40 French St., Lowell. 978-264-9123. lowellsummermusic.org