(MONTCLAIR, NJ) -- Outpost in the Burbs will present an extraordinary evening of music featuring singer-songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson with Zara Phillips on Saturday, November 21, 2026 at the First Congregational Church in Montclair. The special concert will serve as a fundraiser in support of Toni's Kitchen, the Montclair based nonprofit dedicated to combating food insecurity and related challenges in Essex County and beyond. Showtime is 8:00pm.
This fundraiser reflects Outpost's appreciation for the impactful work of Toni's Kitchen and recognizes the critical role the organization plays in helping individuals and families facing food insecurity. The partnership also demonstrates the shared commitment of both organizations to strengthening community and improving lives through service and engagement.
"Outpost has long been a pillar in our community, bringing people together through music while also helping to strengthen services for those who need them most," said Anne Mernin.
"The vast majority of households receiving SNAP include older adults or working individuals and families who are unable to put all the pieces together to afford combined costs of housing, transportation, childcare and healthcare. SNAP helps close that gap and provide stability. Toni's Kitchen is deeply grateful to Outpost in the Burbs for supporting our community through this fundraiser."
This event continues Outpost's tradition of combining music and more in Montclair.
Richard Thompson's musical influence cannot be overstated. Having co-founded the groundbreaking group Fairport Convention as a teenager in the '60s, he and his bandmates invented the distinctive strain of British Folk Rock. He left the group by the age of 21 which was followed by a decade long musical partnership with his then-wife Linda, to over 30 years as a highly successful solo artist. In 2011, Thompson received an OBE (Order of the British Empire) personally bestowed upon him by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. The Los Angeles Times called him "the finest rock songwriter after Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix" and Rolling Stone has named him one of the Top 100 Guitarists of All Time. He has received lifetime achievement awards for songwriting from the BBC Radio 2 Awards, the Americana Music Association, and was awarded the prestigious Ivor Novello Award. His song "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" was named one of TIME Magazine's "100 Greatest Songs Since 1923."
A wide range of musicians have recorded Thompson's songs including Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, R.E.M., Sleater-Kinney, Del McCoury, Bonnie Raitt, Tom Jones, David Byrne, Don Henley, Los Lobos, and many more. His massive body of work includes many Grammy nominated albums as well as numerous soundtracks, including Werner Herzog's Grizzly Man and 2019's The Cold Blue. His genre defying mastery of both acoustic and electric guitar along with engaging energy and onstage wit continue to earn him new fans and a place as one of the most distinctive virtuosos and writers in Folk Rock history. On May 31, 2024 Richard Thompson released the anticipated Ship To Shore, his first studio album in six years.
Zara Phillips is a singer and songwriter, actor, author and activist. As an adoptee herself, much of her work is centered around the adoption world and is focused on improving understanding the lifelong impact of adoption. She is a mother of three and tours with her husband, Richard Thompson. She divides her time between London and New Jersey.
