TWO decades after capturing the world’s attention with a fearless, loop-pedal-powered live performance on Later… with Jools Holland, KT Tunstall is set to grace the stage at Dolans Warehouse on Monday June 30 for what promises to be an unmissable night of genre-defying music and magnetic stagecraft.
Tunstall’s rise to fame is the stuff of modern music legend. In 2004, she was a last-minute addition to the Jools Holland line-up after rapper Nas dropped out. Alone on stage with her guitar, a tambourine, and a loop pedal—still a rarity at the time—she delivered a raw and captivating performance of ‘Black Horse and the Cherry Tree’ that immediately launched her into the global spotlight. Long before loop pedals became the staple of live solo acts, Tunstall had already redefined the possibilities of what one person could do on stage.
That bold performance laid the foundation for her acclaimed debut album Eye to the Telescope, which featured enduring hits like the soulful “Other Side of the World” and the anthemic “Suddenly I See”, famously used in the opening sequence of The Devil Wears Prada. From that moment on, her place in pop culture was cemented.
But Tunstall was never content to be pigeonholed. Her 2007 follow-up, Drastic Fantastic, leaned into her rock sensibilities, while Tiger Suit (2010) introduced an adventurous blend of organic and electronic textures.
In 2013, she shifted gears entirely with Invisible Empire // Crescent Moon, a haunting, Americana-infused record shaped by personal loss and transformation.
Most recently, Tunstall completed an ambitious sonic trilogy—KIN (soul), WAX (body), and NUT (mind)—each representing a different facet of her identity and artistic evolution.
In recognition of her enduring songwriting legacy, Tunstall was honoured with the prestigious Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection, a testament to both the quality and the emotional resonance of her body of work. Alongside touring with legends such as Roger Daltrey, Shawn Colvin, and fellow Scots Texas, she’s also made her mark on the world of musical theatre. In a major new chapter, Clueless: The Musical, for which she composed the music, is set to debut in London’s West End in February 2025.
With a setlist likely to span her greatest hits alongside newer material, fans can expect a performance that captures both the spirit of her early career and the creative dynamism she continues to embody.
