It’s easy to like a performer who calls herself shy, then vigorously headbangs to a song about Walt Whitman. Singer-songwriter Kiya Heartwood has a disarming openness which fills her short set with warmth. She plays straightforward acoustic folk, studded with occasional blues riffs and bluegrass flurries. Though at times her earnest lyrics feel naive, it’s the true stories behind them that become the real focus. Built on bitter-sweet nostalgia for America’s past, they’re populated by steelworkers, rabble-rousers and underdogs of all kinds. Channelling down-home friendliness and shades of Janis Joplin, Heartwood is a fine and engaging storyteller. Quickly winning over the crowd, she soon has the audience singling along, and leaves them pondering those seldom told tales.

theSpace @ Surgeon’s Hall, until 23 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Dave Fargnoli]