KT Tunstall is heading back down under in May 2026 to celebrate two decades of her game-changing debut album Eye To The Telescope. The multi-platinum record – which turned her from a cult singer-songwriter into a global star – will be performed in full at a run of exclusive shows across Australia and New Zealand.
Released in late 2004, Eye To The Telescope became a landmark moment in 2000s British pop. Packed with now-classic tracks – “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree”, “Other Side of the World”, “Universe & U” – it cemented Tunstall’s reputation as a songwriter with both grit and accessibility. “Suddenly I See” went stratospheric after its inclusion in The Devil Wears Prada, earning her an Ivor Novello Award and soundtracking a generation’s coming-of-age.
Her return arrives less than a year after she opened for Train on their nationwide Australian tour in stripped-back duo mode, where she floored crowds with her raw musicianship. Backseat Downunder caught her in Sydney and witnessed firsthand the warmth and power that continues to define her shows. Now, fans will see her step into full-band territory, bringing the loop pedals, soaring vocals and wry humour that have long made her live sets electric.
Reflecting on the album’s milestone, Tunstall says: “When I made my very first record, it never crossed my mind where I might be when it turned 20… I’ve been told the most amazing stories of what these songs mean to people all over the world, how they have kept them company through love and loss, through being lost and getting found. Needless to say, it’s been a beautiful thrill.”
From small-scale beginnings to four million album sales and enduring critical acclaim, Eye To The Telescope has become an indelible part of modern music history. Next year’s shows promise a once-in-a-lifetime chance to relive its spark, with Tunstall at the height of her powers.
TOUR DATES
Tues, May 19: Astor Theatre, Perth
Fri, May 22: Princess Theatre, Brisbane
Sat, 23 May 23: Metro Theatre, Sydney
Sun, May 24: Northcote Theatre, Melbourne
Wed, May 27: The Gov, Adelaide
Fri, May 29: Powerstation, Auckland
Sat, May 30: Meow Nui, Wellington
Go HERE for ticketing information.
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