RICHARD Thompson, the legendary folk singer and guitar virtuoso from the U.K., will glide through “1,000 Years of Popular Music,” at Joe’s Pub (425 Lafayette St., at Astor Place; [212] 539-8770).
Since it is a thousand years, he’ll need some time to play them – so the solo artist is performing five consecutive nights beginning tomorrow.
Thompson’s picks include the first known English song from the 13th century to recent hits by Britney Spears – perhaps even “Oops! . . . I Did It Again” – as well as jazz standards, pop hits and other surprises.
* TONIGHT: Trumpeter and vocalist Leif Arntzen and his band perform original pop inspired by legendary jazzman Chet Baker at Joe’s Pub.
* TONIGHT: The Shining, appearing at the Bowery Ballroom (6 Delancey St., at the Bowery; [212] 533-2111), is the new band from some ex-Verve folk, which has a record due this fall. Chicago quartet Matthew, which mixes “pop songs and artier songs,” opens.
* WEDNESDAY: Dolly Parton’s new album, “Halos and Horns” (out tomorrow), features fresh tunes from the country icon, such as “Dagger Through the Heart,” as well as acoustic covers of well-known pop and rock songs, including Bread’s “If” and Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven.” She’ll perform at Irving Plaza (17 Irving Place, at 15th Street; [212] 777-6800).
Ethereal Canadian singer Jane Siberry is all over town this week. First up is a Wednesday show at Virgin Megastore in Union Square, followed by a free performance Thursday with a full band at Castle Clinton in Battery Park with Chocolate Genius (for info: [212] 835-2789). Then she does three nights at the Fez (380 Lafayette St., at Great Jones Street; [212] 533-2680) this weekend.
* THURSDAY: The Walkmen, who rose from the ashes of Jonathan Fire*Eater, have been making music since fifth grade.
Now in their 20s, the New York quintet – part of Manhattan’s new wave of rock – recently released “Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me Is Gone,” which trickles watery piano throughout its organ-coated mix of garage-rock, pop and punk, and tops it with Hamilton Leithauser’s trembling voice. The band will perform Thursday and Friday at Brownies (169 Ave. A, at 10th Street; [212] 420-8392).
* FRIDAY: Hoboken’s Yo La Tengo shimmers with sparse tunes then shakes with next-to-raw rockers. The glorious trio, along with poet Everton Sylvester, performs free at Celebrate Brooklyn! ([718] 855-7882) at the Prospect Park Bandshell.
