Richard Thompson plays at the Edmonds Center

Richard Thompson has been playing folk music since he was a teenager.

In the 1960s, Thompson, along with his bandmates in Fairport Convention, were on the forefront of the British folk rock movement and by 21 he was off on his own, pursuing a solo career in music. His songwriting has been compared to Bob Dylan and his guitar playing to Jimi Hendrix.

Thompson, who was named one of Rolling Stones’ top 20 guitarists of all time, brings his live show to the Edmonds Center for the Arts (410 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets range from $15 to $44.

One of the world’s most critically acclaimed and prolific songwriters, Thompson has received lifetime achievement awards for songwriting on both sides of the Atlantic — from the Americans in Nashville to Britain’s BBC Awards, and the prestigious Ivor Novellos. In 2011 Thompson was the recipient of the OBE (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.

Vaudeville Etiquette will open for Thompson. The Seattle folk-rock band embraces its scope of influences moving from swinging roots rock, to country, jazz, and blues.