Richard Thompson is one of very few guitarists and songwriters to remain at the top of his game after more than 50 years in the music biz. Cofounder of seminal English band Fairport Convention back in the days of Swinging London, he commands a range of musical idioms from Anglo-Celtic folk to hard rock.

Thompson, who now lives in California, comes to the Vogue Theatre this Wednesday (February 6), fronting an electric trio in support of last year’s release 13 Rivers, a brilliant display of songwriting with unexpected twists of rhythm and melody and his hallmark cryptic lyrics.