Appropriately for Halloween the Philadelphia based singer-songwriter Lizanne Knott casts a musical spell over her audience as she finishes her British tour at Lichfield Guilldhall.

Her latest musical project Hey Harley is a collaboration with the equally talented Bill Reveles, and their blended voices and guitar styles cover a lot of ground, from new age ambient to gospel, blues, and folk.

The duo play a set that's largely made up of their own quality songs, but they also find time for a number of covers. Although not household names, the duo have seen their songs feature in a number of top rating television programmes and films such as ‘True Blood’ and ‘Dawson’s Creek’. There's no-room within their compositions for solos or improvisation, but they took an almost painterly approach to their work, each note is carefully weighted to allow for the most impact, and their songs are largely of a narrative nature, ranging from tracks about parenthood to the environment.

Lizanne Knott’s, pure, clear pitched voice has made her a favourite with the Old Grey Whistle Test's Bob Harris, and the songs work on the radio, but in a room with the acoustic of The Guildhall, the songs have extra depth and lustre.

Starting with the hopeful, gospel tinged ‘Wonderful Day’ it's soon clear that we're in safe hands, and a life spent in concert halls has prepared the duo well. The economic situation is touched upon with ‘Die In This Town’ whilst the bluesy ‘Could Have Been My Man’ would have sounded at home on any mainstream blues album. Bill Reveles' first solo spot consists of the sad ballad ‘That’s the Way She Loves’whilst comedy song ‘Jesus or Elvis’ has its impact somewhat softened with the juxtaposition of a bed of minor chords though 1^st set closer ‘Carry You Home’, a song written for Lizanne Knott’s daughter, upholds a far deeper resonance.

Much of the same ground is covered in the second half, although at points to a far deeper level.

‘For Somebody’ and ‘Love Has Passed Me By’ were songs about the human condition and love lost, whilst Lizanne Knott gives full rein to the bluesy timbre of her voice during the traditional ‘Big Road’. The set closes with a full bodied reading of ‘Forgive Us’ a ballad that speaks of religion and redemption. Fittingly, a reading of Dylan’s ‘Knockin on Heaven’s Door’ is the encore, but a slightly different arrangement and shared vocal duties lifts it above the ordinary.