LIVE REVIEW: KT TUNSTALL + GERMEIN SISTERS @ THE PRINCESS THEATRE 22/05/26

Words by Cecilia Pattison-Levi Photos Steph Ure

The evening at the Princess Theatre got off to a slow start as fans trickled into the venue. But the start did not reflect the end: as KT Tunstall and her support band the Germein Sisters delivered an energetic, chatty and witty concert that was performed with style, storytelling, and was full of “bangers!”.

“Are there any Scots here?” was the question of the night from Scottish musician KT Tunstall as my hand shot up into the air as a hard yes answer during her Brisbane set. Scotland’s most productive musician has her debut album, ‘Eye To The Telescope’ turning 20 this year, her work writing the music for the musical ‘Clueless’ is turning 30, she headlined Celtic Connections in Glasgow in January 2026 (my aunt said it was great!), and KT Tunstall has celebrated her 50th birthday. There was, and is, a lot going on and so much to be proud of as fans filled the Princess Theatre at 9pm to hear from the woman herself.

However, back at the start of the evening, it was the Adelaide trio, Germein Sisters, who kicked off their set with a stripped-back acoustic sound of original songs. The crowd that turned up early received a real treat from the band made up of three siblings, Georgia Germein, Ella Germein, and Clara Germein as they began with their song ‘Knocking At My Door’.

The crowd were intrigued with the Germein Sisters tight harmonies, rhythmic bass, acoustic guitar, keyboard, and the Peruvian percussion instrument cajón being played. They delivered songs about being on the road in a band, ‘Suitcase’, and the knock-backs in life as musicians, ‘Good For A Girl’. The banter between songs, in particular from Ella, was delightful, giving the crowd great insight into the chemistry between these sisters. It is clear that this group harmonise both on and off stage as they delivered the ballad ‘Distance’.

The Germein Sisters told the crowd about their new album being released this year. They gave everyone a taster of the rock sound with the new song ‘It’s A Shame’. Even stripped-back, it was a clear blues-tinged rocker and will be great to hear as the band explained “with their full electric sound treatment”. They ended their set with that rock vibe and crowd engagement singing with ‘Choc & Cherry’.

The stage was stripped-back. The PA played lots of Sheryl Crow songs, with a side of Indigo Girls, Joni Mitchell, and Bob Dylan. Where was Tracey Chapman? I pondered as we waited. The mezzanine was packed and setlists were down, and lyric sheets for a special performance later on in the set.

The last time we saw KT Tunstall in Brisbane was in May 2025 supporting Train, and it was such a short set, so I was so glad she returned to do her own headline tour. This ecstatic reviewer was front and centre to sing along with every lyric of this important album, and I had a fellow enthusiast, a young American woman, standing next to me was also so there for it, and we had a “randan” time as we “gie it laldy” from the first chords of ‘Other Side Of The World’ to the end of the show.

It was a terrific start as KT Tunstall and her amazing band projected her thoughts and emotions from being from so far away, Scotland (and now living in the US). She eased the crowd into the album’s track listing with a few songs out of place as she got everyone into full on “ceilidh” mode, singing, dancing, and ready for stories about songs and times past.

KT Tunstall did not disappoint, and she told the crowd about the science behind writing a Fleetwood Mac-like song. She stated, “You have to make the tune so catchy on first impression that everyone is carried away with it and dancing before you hear those negative lyrics”. Then, she delivered the fantastic ‘Another Place To Fall’, and we done the front had “gone off!”. It was so good!

I have to say KT Tunstall’s band was astonishing good as we were told “second time playing together”. The musicians on stage who raised up the sound of the night were, Jackie Barnes on drums (yes, on of Jimmy), ARIA Award winner and Kate Ceberano’s guitarist of choice Kathleen Halloran, and the controlled and measured LA musician and bassist Joel Gottschalk.

Jackie Barnes was expert on those drums and egg shakers as he brought an organic and subtle beat to underpin the songs without overpowering them, especially on the beautiful ballads ‘Under The Weather’ and ‘Miniature Disasters’. Kathleen Halloran was fabulous, and her guitar goddess self, as her riffs moved around the songs with real conviction and expression. All the musicians engaged in a musical interplay and conversation that was fluid as ‘Eye To The Telescope’ was brought to life.

As a seasoned performer, KT Tunstall is a master of the stage. She radiated warmth as she performed emotional part of the set with fan favourites ‘Silent Sea’, ‘Universe & U’, and ‘False Alarm’. And, she stopped and told the crowd, “I performed it without a mistake - First time ever!”.

Then, the moment had come, KT Tunstall told the crowd that “it’s time for that song”. As she continued, “I love hearing it at the chemist, and I am proud of writing that song. The song everyone knows. I wrote that song!”. It is also usually performed at “the end of the show”, and “I won’t walk off the stage”, and “You’re not to go to your car to drive home”. And, then, with a “Let’s strut ladies”, she launched into the mega-hit, ‘Suddenly I See’. The Brisbane crowd were on their feet and dancing along to the gritty instrumentation and KT Tunstall’s distinctive, pitch-perfect vocals. Drawing attention to the crowd’s reaction to the hit after, she told the crowd, “I’m glad a didn’t get famous on a depressing song”.

Then, she took the crowd through another mini-set of emotional songs and ballads. There were memories of her physicist father and his work in the title track ‘Eye To The Telescope’. Then, her story of record label kingpins and their despair of, “Where are the bangers? And cut out the “chords” songs”, as label bosses with “Stevie Wonder and cocaine addictions and drug covered fingers playing her guitar” were retold as she performed ‘Stoppin’ The Love’, ‘Heal Over’, and ‘Through The Dark’. Her humour was delightfully unfiltered.

Then, the album came to a close with the performance of her ‘other’ famous song but probably the most famous to fans and other musicians, ‘Black Horse and the Cherry Tree’ ,as she recalled her first performance on ‘Later… with Jools Holland’ and being on the show with Robert Smith from The Cure. There was also an explanation as to why the song was so famous in gyms especially the “jazzercize” ladies with added moves.

The encore was a five-song treat. It started with KT Tunstall giving a space to Kathleen Halloran to perform her song ‘Wolves Like You’ to the crowd from her debut album, ‘Nobody’s Baby’. She was gushing in her praise for the young musician and her guitar skills. Kathleen Halloran did an amazing job delivering the song as the rest of the band joined together as a backing band of singers with added egg shaker!

Then, the Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters approved songs ‘Little Favours’ and ‘Saving My Face’ were performed as the energy off the stage kept coming. These songs were followed by the new single ‘Look At Me Now’ that she had offered to ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ soundtrack. “Too rocky,” she quipped! “It’s my updated version of ‘Suddenly I See’ – it’s where I am now”.

KT Tunstall played the crowd another song, ‘The River’ ,from her ‘Wax’ album before she concluded the evening with 2010’s ‘Push That Knot Away’ from ‘Tiger Suit’. She explained, “the idea behind this track was to combine my lyrics with rave music, are you ready to bounce”. There was a short training run. Then, the Brisbane crowd bounced along to the final burst of rhythmic fire from KT Tunstall and her band as they finished the night’s set with panache.

It was a fantastic performance, and I hope KT Tunstall returns to Brisbane as soon as she can.