Les Barker and Jon Pfaff perform at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16 at the River Theater, 230 W. Marine Drive.

Barker writes poems and comes from Manchester. He was an accountant before he became a poet. He has written 70 books. His poems have spawned a number of folk heroes: Jason and the Arguments, Cosmo the Fairly Accurate Knife Thrower, Captain Indecisive and Spot of the Antarctic.

Barker began his career as assistant to Mrs. Ackroyd, a small, hairy dog who lay around in folk clubs, bit people and became famous. Mrs. Ackroyd was the only dog ever to own her own record label. The Mrs. Ackroyd Band gradually evolved from an ever-changing who’s who of the folk scene into a tightly knit, well-rehearsed group. Barker has several solo albums to his credit: “Dogologues,” “An Infinite Number of Occasional Tables,” “A Cardi and Bloke,” “Up the creek without a poodle” and “Arovertherapy.” Barker has traveled Great Britain, as well as Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and – both solo and with the band – Canada.

The Mrs. Ackroyd Band – supplemented by guest members such as June Tabor and Martin Allcock – has released four albums “Oranges & Lemmings,” “Gnus & Roses,” “Tubular Dogs” and “Yelp!”.

In addition there are three highly acclaimed albums of Barker’s serious work; the folk opera “The Stones of Callanish,” “Some Love,” “The Wings of Butterflies,” and “Airs of the Dog.”

Barker and the Mrs. Ackroyd Band burst furtively onto national radio with a series of six programmes for BBC Radio.

Pfaff will perform the songs and lead sing-alongs of better-known Barker works.

Tickets are $10 general admission and $7 for seniors and students and can be bought in advance at the River Theater’s box office from 2 to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday or by calling (503) 325-7487 with a credit card. Bill’s tavern Brewhouse beer and wine will be available. All ages are welcome.