Born in Fremantle, Western Australia, Carus Thompson began writing songs aged 12. By the time he was old enough to play in bars he was making a living playing on the Perth pub circuit. A nomadic lifestyle saw Thompson call many places home, including the Aboriginal community Peppimenarti, where he spent an influential four years. His first release was a self-titled EP released in 2000; a second EP, Mind's Eye, followed in 2002. Now based in Melbourne, Thompson has supported national tours by Jack Johnson, John Butler and the Waifs, whose members featured on his debut album, 2003's Songs From Martin St. Thompson undertook a comprehensive national tour supporting the album, taking in the East Coast Blues and Roots Festival as well as the Apollo Bay and Fairbridge music festivals. International attention awaited; Thompson played a 20-date tour through Europe, including an appearance at the Edinburgh Festival. Committed touring both home and abroad resulted in a double live album, Acoustic at the Norfolk, in 2003. 2004's follow-up studio album, Long Nights Are Gone, was the first to feature Thompson's three-piece backing band, the True Believers. The album had local success - the track 'Ain't No Crime' featured heavily on the Triple J Net 50 - while Carus and the True Believers toured extensively overseas. The Carus and the True Believers EP, Breakdown, was released in 2005. The band embarked on another extended European tour in early 2006 that included a number of shows in England supporting Seth Lakeman. The band then teamed up with Rob Sawyer and Loren to form the Roots Roadshow, which toured Australia in late 2006. The album Three Boxes was recorded in late 2006 with producer Greg Arnold, and released in May 2007. A national tour followed to promote the release.