A ONE-OFF in the finest folk rock tradition, Richard Thompson was in fine fettle as his trio tore into York on Monday.

While support act Joan Shelley’s tales from rural Kentucky were understated and relaxed, Thompson’s set was a great contrast. Shelley's strongest tune by some distance was If the Storms Never Came, her candlelit nostalgia dancing with Nathan Salsburg’s pretty guitar.

Thompson’s set included the similarly titled, and best, song on his new 13 Rivers record, The Storm Won’t Come. Building the drama deliberately, there followed a prolonged torrent of electricity.

Thompson’s great strength is his songwriting consistency, characteristically doomy and gloomy, but shot through with heart, ancient barbs and radio hooks.

With a back catalogue now spanning half a century, there was no shortage of strong material. New songs like Bones of Gilead, literate, nimble and taut, albeit melodically unremarkable, measured up well with better-known classics.

If neither of the Fairport Convention tracks played, including Meet On The Ledge, really suited this garage rock shake-down, Wall Of Death and Tear Stained Letter blazed undimmed.

The snarl of Put It There Pal was in its element and the 23rd and final number played, the Sixtes' R&B of Take A Heart (by the long forgotten The Sorrows), was also outstanding.

Closing his eyes to solo, Thompson’s regular band of drummer Michael Jerome and bassist Taras Prodaniuk kept him in sight throughout. Cleverly managing to be both solid and flexible, Jerome in particular was tremendous, a masterclass in lithe percussion.

As a guitarist, Thompson has few peers, and Guitar Heroes dextrously showed off his prowess. His occasional acoustic flurries were stunning and threatened to steal the show

Beeswing, perhaps his best loved song, packs a film into five glorious minutes and 1952 Vincent Black Lightning remains irresistible to those of a certain age.

Tore The Hippodrome Down, less heralded, is perhaps more archetypical Thompson, a sour and defiant blend of bitter and lovely.