WESTBROOK — Named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the Top 20 Guitarists of All Time, Richard Thompson will be appearing in concert at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at the Westbrook Performing Arts Center in Westbrook. Opening the show and perhaps joining Thompson for a few songs is the extraordinary York-based fiddler Joyce Andersen.

Thompson has received Lifetime Achievement Awards for Songwriting on both sides of the Atlantic — from the Americanas in Nashville to Britain’s BBC Awards, and the prestigious Ivor Novellos. In 2011 Thompson was the recipient of the Order of the British Empire, personally bestowed upon him by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Most recently he was nominated for “Artist of the Year” by the Americana Music Honors & Awards.

Having co-founded the ground-breaking group Fairport Convention as a teenager in the 60s, Thompson and his mates virtually invented British Folk Rock. By the age of 21, he left the band to pursue his own career. A wide range of musicians have recorded Thompson’s music, including Robert Plant, Elvis Costello, REM, Del McCoury, Bonnie Raitt, Los Lobos, David Byrne, Don Henley and many others.

Tickets: www.HeptunesConcerts.com