IF you think that country music is all about pickup trucks and doomed romances topped off with a large helping of schmaltz, you need to treat yourself to a Striking Matches gig at the first available opportunity.

The duo - Justin Davis and Sarah Zimmermann - will change your mind forever about what country music can be like.

Backed by bassist and drummer they raised the roof in Manchester with a set full of beautiful harmonies, blistering guitar work and quality songs which stay in the head for days.

Fans of the TV series Nashville will be familiar with some of their songs - eight of them featured in the show - including the hauntingly moving When The Right One Comes Along.

Live, the interplay between the two is a delight to behold. And these guys can rock. The petite Sarah sings like Loretta Lynn but she also plays guitar like Jimmy Page. Some of solos reduced the audience to open mouthed admiration and partner Justin's right there with her. This twin lead guitar attack is just one of the reasons which makes Striking Matches so special.

But at the heart of everything is great musicality with harmonies soaring into the air. Much of the set was taken from their debut album Nothing But The Silence including Nashville favourites Trouble Is As Trouble Does and Hanging On A Lie.

The band was clearly having just as much fun as the audience - the pair of them smiled their way through the whole night.

So you don't like country music - looks like you've never seen Stirling Matches live. Pure quality from start to finish.

JOHN ANSON