It has only been a year since KT Tunstall was last in Australia but this time she returned for her own solo tour after supporting Train last year, celebrating the 20th anniversary of Eye to the Telescope. For this set, Tunstall performed the album in full before moving into some of the bigger songs from her later work, with a few surprises interspersed for the crowd. The Metro Theatre was full and rocking for the show, with Tunstall coming out to huge applause. 

“Usually I sing this song about you, but tonight it’s for you,” said Tunstall before launching into “Other Side of the World”.

Immediately, her musicianship and craftsmanship were evident, with very strong vocals and excellent guitar work backed by a fantastic band including Jackie Barnes on drums and Kathleen Halloran on guitar. The fuller band setup gave many of the songs a heavier and more energetic sound than their studio versions while still retaining the intimacy that has always defined Tunstall’s songwriting.

Tunstall moved through the album quite quickly, contextualising many of the songs with stories and reflections from the period in which the record was written. The punchy “Miniature Disasters” was followed by the beautiful “Universe & U”, which had the audience singing along before she moved into the song everyone was waiting for in “Suddenly I See”. It was unusual hearing the song so early in the set, but the album format meant it arrived exactly where it was meant to. There was a huge energy in the room as the entire crowd sang along, with Tunstall showing off the power and texture of her voice with even more rasp and grit than the original recording. Twenty years later, the song still felt vibrant and fresh rather than simply nostalgic. It was one of the defining moments of the night and really set the tone for the rest of the show.

Tunstall later brought Newcastle-based Adam Miller onto the stage to assist on guitar for “Eye to the Telescope” before “Heal Over” became one of the most beautiful moments of the evening. The Metro Theatre acoustics gave the softer songs remarkable clarity, with every vocal and instrumental detail cutting through perfectly. Tunstall and her band relied heavily on pure musicianship throughout the night, with very little theatricality or overproduction, which only strengthened the performance.

She concluded the main album set with a blues-inspired guitar version of “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree”, which contrasted nicely with the original version while still keeping the song’s infectious energy. The performance highlighted just how versatile many of the songs on Eye to the Telescope still are, comfortably shifting between folk, indie pop and rock without sounding dated.

The second half of the set gave Tunstall the opportunity to move beyond the anniversary format. A brief tribute to Jimmy Barnes of “Ride the Night Away” was warmly received before “Little Favours” introduced a much rockier edge to the night. Tunstall remarked that the song had once received the commendation of Dave Grohl despite her second album not quite achieving the same level of success as her debut, but when performed live, the song had a real bite and rocky flavour which contrasted nicely to the rest of the set. 

One of the nicest moments of the night came when Tunstall handed over the spotlight to Halloran to perform “Wolves Like You” from her latest album. Halloran thanked Tunstall for the opportunity, noting that most artists would never willingly hand over part of their own set, and the moment reinforced the warm and collaborative atmosphere that carried throughout the evening.

Tunstall remarked that it was difficult deciding how to close the show after already performing her biggest hit so early in the set. Instead, she opted for the deep cut “Push That Knot Away”, which ended the night with a rougher and rockier ‘90s energy that sent the crowd out on a high.

Overall, this was a fantastic show that not only celebrated 20 years of Tunstall’s breakout but also showcased the strength of the material within its context and still in the modern day. Tunstall remains an exceptional vocalist and musician whose live performances continue to feel polished, engaging and completely genuine. This was a great set in a great venue and the audience clearly loved every minute of it. A wonderful night celebrating one of the defining albums of its era.

Rating: ★★★★1/2

KT Tunstall – Metro Theatre – 23 May 2026

Read our interview with KT Tunstall here.