Lior @ King Tut's

Singer-songwriter Lior seems like an awfully nice guy, with his yellow shirt, relentlessly cheery banter and ear-to-ear grin. Even before the Sydney native strums his first note it seems it would be unfair not to like his music. Luckily the songs themselves are pleasantly tuneful and competently performed. Technically they're a "rootsy mix of styles," as promised, but for the most part he delivers inoffensive acoustic pop. He even manages to work the Balamory theme song into his set, much to the delight of the Glaswegian contingent (and the bemusement of the Australians). For all his cheeriness, he cuts a lonely figure on stage - alone with a guitar. But what he lacks in company he more than compensates for with enthusiasm; he gives these songs his all. They aren't quite as special as he might like you to believe, but it's his voice that captivates – soaring, soulful and effortless all at once. [Eve McCann]