Tom Rush. A true folk/blues icon. Yeah, “icon” is used a bit too liberally these days. But, in Tom’s case, it’s fact. Others I, and most likely many music lovers consider icons of this genre are Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Dylan, and Joan Baez. Tom was part of the folk revival back in the early 60s while he was an English Lit student at Harvard, and became known for music at Club 47.

At age 83, a new album was released March 1, 2024 entitled, “Gardens Old, Flowers New," which is his first new release in five, well, six years in 2025. If you haven’t heard some cuts of this 19th album already on YouTube – do it. Then buy it at his concert at the Opera House here in Boothbay Harbor this Saturday night, Aug. 2. Matt Nakoa will be making music with him, sure to be a concert you won’t want to miss.

The new album title is in two songs on this latest album. “I wrote ‘Siena’s Song’ when my daughter Siena was a baby. She was playing in the garden. Watching your child discover the world is (the) new. I’m the old garden in this case,” he said. “The songs are about moments experienced by all of us like falling in love or watching your child grow; each time is different and fresh.”

In “Siena’s Song”: “This garden’s old, the flowers new, A flash of sunlight in the dew, A light so bright can bring tears to your eyes.”

“To See My Baby Smile” is the other tune with lyrics: “This garden’s old, the flowers new, Love will grow, and love will bloom, And when I’m lost, you’ll lead me down, To love again.”

Naturally we talked a bit about songwriting. “My best ideas come when I’m still half asleep and the songs get written pretty quickly,” Tom said. “I don’t know where they come from. I’d been talking about another album – some day. Matt (Nakoa) has been my accompanist for 10 years now and he decided it was time. He’s the one that booked a studio in (Connecticut) and lined up some brilliant musicians ... Matt, Seth Glier – a brilliant player, Abbie Gardner, Mike Reilly, Dave Eggar, Joe Nerney, Monica Rizzio, Mikhail Pivovarov … and a great sound engineer and video guy (Vlad Tipicidi)."

He sings about love, loss, joy, desire, hope, dreams ... moments in time. His imagery and, let’s face it, that gorgeous, distinctive voice of his, will conjure up memories from your own life. His songs are our songs; stories of what this human experience is all about.

Tom also has a song written about a guitar, an Epiphone Texan he bought to take to beach parties in the early 60s. He named it “The Naked Lady” after he had it gussied up with an inlay of a naked lady and a snake on the neck. The instrument burned in a fire in 1990, but luthiers John Marr and Jonathan MacKenzie (Mackenzie & Marr) contacted Tom about designing a guitar for him in 2011. There were a “few” samples until the final limited edition instrument was created – including Tom’s idea to have an inlay of a snake wrapped around the naked lady a la Art Deco on the fretboard. Just 250 were made (all with serial numbers) and, naturally, Tom has number one. Hopefully he’ll sing her song at the Opera House.

“This is my 65th Farewell Tour,” Tom said with a chuckle. “I say that every year ... I do 60-70 shows a year now. There was a period of five years, back when I was younger, that I had just 10 days off. Writing, rehearsing, traveling, concerts, promos ... After that I decided to quit show biz and bought a farm in New Hampshire. I was there nine months and decided it was time to get back on the road.”

Speaking of the road, Tom and Matt have five shows coming up around the Northeast including the show here in Boothbay Harbor. When we discussed the playlist, I asked him how he felt about playing his older tunes, often the ones audiences most want to hear. “I play both and I don’t mind. A lot of the older ones are what people want to hear and I still like to play them.”

Advance discounted tickets for the 7:30 p.m. Tom Rush and Matt Nakoa concert are $30, available through the Opera House box office at 86 Townsend Ave. or by calling 207-633-5159; online tickets are $35 on the official venue website, https://boothbayoperahouse.com/