The opening night of iTunes Live saw Jose Gonzalez and Stephanie Dosen fly the flag for the folkies.

The 11-night series of eclectic music and one-off collaborations was given the perfect start by Dosen, whose charming set of love-bruised ballads drew parallels to Blue-era Joni Mitchell.

On the beguiling slow-burner This Joy, the cherubic Wisconsin singer-songwriter was joined by an all-female band on drums, cello and violin, whose lush harmonies provided the perfect accompaniment to Dosen's ethereal vocals.

In between songs, Dosen was full of chipper, charming banter, joking with the crowd that her habit of obsessively tuning the guitar was fully in keeping with the evening. "It is the iTunes series, after all," she quipped.

By contrast, headlining act Gonzalez has never been much for talking. Sloping on to the stage, the sullen Swede managed only a nervous "Hello" before launching into the sombre, hypnotic groove of How Low, eyes fixed firmly to the floor.

While Gonzalez did little to interact with the crowd, his brand of sophisticated pop was well-received in the intimate surroundings of Air Studios.

Old favourite Crosses showcased his dextrous guitar work, while the tender lyrics of Fold suggested something of the hushed melancholy of Nick Drake.

When Dosen joined him for the collaborative element of the evening, they looked an odd couple - Dosen the boisterous pupil, Gonzalez the reluctant mentor - but a barnstorming cover of Carole King's A Road To Nowhere provided a rousing and triumphant finale. By the end, even Gonzalez was smiling.