Live review: KT Tunstall, Parr Hall

KT Tunstall is much more than just a singer.

She’s an entertainer, an inspiration, a great night out and she can even make the lame dance (more of that later).

Back in 2004 the Scottish singer-songwriter found instant success upon the release of her debut album, Eye To The Telescope, which sold more than 2.6 million copies worldwide.

Nominated for the Mercury Prize, she’s won two Brit awards and an Ivor Novello award.

Recently she’s collaborated and toured with Simple Minds, moved to California and started a new career as a composer of soundtracks for Hollywood movies.

Now she’s back on tour with her new album, Kin.

Clearly a multi-talented musician, it’s on stage where she really shines. One of those Brit Awards was for Best British Live Act and her performance on Friday lived up to the accolade.

KT bounced onto stage wearing gold lamé trousers and white boots, a look somewhere between rock chick and spacewoman.

Full of energy, fun and warmth she told us how happy she was to be back in ‘Costa del Warrington’.

It was one of the hottest evenings of the year and conditions inside the Parr Hall were tropical.

Alone on stage, with no backing band except for the gadgets and loop machine she uses to create her unique sound, KT’s personality filled the venue and delighted her fans, old and new.

In control and totally in her element, she had us singing along within five minutes and organised a ‘dance-off’ competition to win the pen she’d used at bingo the night before.

It was so infectious and inspiring that a man on crutches hopped to the front of the hall to take part.

He rightly won the prize and the admiration of the whole crowd.

This tour was a chance for KT to re-imagine some of her old hits and the stripped-back version of Other Side of the World was gorgeous.

But the gig also took place just four days after the tragic events at Manchester Arena and the singer thanked the audience for turning up, then dedicated Black Horse and the Cherry Tree to everyone who was at the Ariana Grande concert.

Modest, down-to-earth and dazzlingly talented, KT is a genius who, at one point, played the kazoo as well as guitar, keyboard and drum machines in this fantastic, feel-good show.

A great start to the bank holiday weekend and a night that will live long in the memory.

ELIZABETH HUGHES