IT MIGHT have been just another stop on an endless tour, but for those lucky enough to see Amber Rubarth, we felt like chosen ones.

Having supported Mary Chapin Carpenter with her Americana trio, Applewood Road, at the York Barbican last Friday, Saturday was far more intimate.

Eyeball to eyeball with the 60-strong crowd, Rubarth seemed nervous to start, "even with my bad sight I can see everyone here," she deadpanned. In a salmon-pink summer dress and cowboy boots, Rubarth was certainly striking although her opening songs were a little underwhelming.

Like opening act Boss Caine, Rubarth doesn’t seek to conceal or prettify her songs; simplicity reigns. While Caine’s big voice and nocturnal tunes can sometimes wear their influences too proudly (although Ghosts And Drunks was wonderful), Rubarth’s lighter touch enables her to convey greater authenticity. At the intersection of singer songwriter, country and folk, Rubarth’s light songs of the moon and love soon wove their magic.

Rubarth has smartly used the Internet to build her profile (Her choral reinvention of Losing My Religion has become something of a signature tune) and next year sees the releases of her first film, a travelogue called September 12.

Having already charmed Glastonbury, it will be interesting to see how the willowy 33 year old comes across on the big screen, but from three feet she is devastating.

The former chainsaw sculptress turned seductress on Full Moon In Paris, while Colored Glass Hearts was vulnerable and quietly captivating. The Maiden And The Ram was short and catchy while New York was part Paul Simon, part Laura Cantrell.

With Tom McRae making a sold-out re-appearance on Thursday, this is already shaping up to be a special week of house concert music.