KT Tunstall is back in Australia after a visit last year with Train and it’s amazing, and so awesome to see how many have come out tonight to see her show. Testament to an artist who hasn’t been here for a long time that people truly want to see. So tonight as we get ready to celebrate twenty years of her amazing album ‘Eye To The Telescope’ I can’t wait to see how tonight plays out.
The Germein Sisters start things off tonight and I love these family bands as it works. The vocals are so well blended and delivered as they know each other. Catchy songs and a fun vibe for sure. I can’t wait to hear these songs on a more electric environment as the last couple in particular were standouts and I’ll definitely be listening to more from them. They had the crowd going, and that’s tough for a support at the best of times but this crowd is warmed up and ready to go, and thanks to The Germein Sisters who did a great job to get them there.
The band and KT take the stage and a very happy KT addresses the crowd and takes us straight into ‘Other Side of the World’ and I must say hearing this as a full band song is great. The reception after that first song was magic and truly deserved as she starts telling stories and getting laughs you can just tell this is going to be a classic night. Promises of playing the album in full we move to ‘Another Place to Fall’ and this band sound great! ‘Under the Weather’ sums up her experience today getting rained on in Sydney but you honestly forget how good these songs are and hearing them live takes them to the next level and it’s perfect. Introducing the band and dedicating ‘Miniature Disasters’ to anyone that had a shit week and they absolutely loved that one.
‘Silent Sea’ slows things down which was so great to hear. ‘Universe & U’ sees KT throw on an electric guitar and what a groove this one hits as her voice is just pristine and she sings these songs and she really feels them with the delivery. Straight into ‘False Alarm’ as this slower one again just fits perfectly and this is such a treat. “OK this is where it gets weird because this is the song…” but playing the album in order means up next is ‘Suddenly I See’ and with some amazing crowd work this song landed perfectly. Hearing it mid set may be weird but it honestly worked. A classic tune and that was a moment.
Now something special for us and us only she brings out Australian guitarist Adam Miller and it’s time for the title track ‘Eye to the Telescope’ and it’s so hauntingly brilliant and his guitar took it to another level. Sometimes it’s obvious why an album is named what it is and that performance tonight just proves it. Then we continue the album and ‘Heal Over’ keeps the groove going, what a brilliant song. Things rock back up for ‘Stoppin’ the Love’ with some fine guitar work from Kathleen and that got close to the biggest reaction of the night. ‘Through the Dark’ gets a fun and different version tonight as it’s usually played on piano but tonight as a band it sounded great and fit the set.
Closing out the album with the one that started it all. Telling the story of it and with a “woo hoo” it’s time for ‘Black Horse and the Cherry Tree’ and what a song. The crowd are helping and they are so into this it’s awesome. Oh no way she’s slowed it down and with Jackie Ranes of drums they are now playing ‘Ride the Night Away’ by fellow Scot Jimmy Barnes of course the father of Jackie before bringing the song back around to close it out, and with that the album is done. As they leave the stage for a quick break this crowd is rowdy!!
Back very quickly and discussing her second album and Dave Grohl’s love of it the band busts into ‘Little Favours’ and what a bloody catchy track. That might be close to my favourite of the night. Band guitarist Kathleen is given the opportunity to sing one of her tracks and ‘Wolves Like You’ is it and that’s awesome for KT to give her the chance to do this. Something different and a really cool track. Now playing a new song, a sequel she’s penned to Suddenly I See, the song is called ‘Look at Me Now’ and that’s a whole lot of fun and only the third time it’s been played live, you’d think it had been in the set for years. Hopefully we’ll hear that released soon, and much more in the way of new music from KT.
Oh wow ok this next track is amazing, it’s ‘The River’ and this is the one tonight, I need to listen to this again immediately. That was awesome. A very gracious KT Tunstall gives us one more and a banging deep cut while getting everyone to bounce she closes her set with ‘Push That Knot Away’ and this “rave rocker” was a great way to close the set.
Tonight was something, when and artist is that happy and that gracious and it radiates out to the crowd, it just cements that everyone truly had a great night. The band were firing, the stories were funny and interesting, and the songs are just so heartfelt and rockin’ at the same time. Tonight was what you want from a Saturday night in Sydney, a night of pure entertainment and KT Tunstall gave us just that.
I imagine we’ll see her back in Australia quite often moving forward and I’ll be there every time.
Essential Information
Venue: The Metro Theatre – Sydney
Date: May 23, 2026
Presented By: Destroy All Lines
Website: www.kttunstall.com
Set List:
Other Side of the World
Another Place to Fall
Under the Weather
Miniature Disasters
Silent Sea
Universe & U
False Alarm
Suddenly I See
Eye to the Telescope
Heal Over
Stoppin’ the Love
Through the Dark
Black Horse and the Cherry Tree
Little Favours
Wolves Like You
Look at Me Now
The River
Push That Knot Away
