KT Tunstall Plays Inver Cottage Free!

And you didn’t hear about it? Not surprising, this one had a limit of 70 and the management at Inver Cottage were worried if they advertised the gig they would be swamped.

In fact they withdrew an Ad in the Dunoon Observer, fearing it would bring hundreds more than would be able to get in.

As it was, there was a full house last night, eating, drinking and dancing to one of Scotland’s best-beloved singer-songwriters, and very few were unable to get in.

Inver Cottage has a special atmosphere in ordinary circumstances, but when you combine that with an acoustic set from an artist who has significant chart success, is releasing a new album (with a new sound), you are not charged entrance in and its in Argyll, you have to say that is really special.

The doors opened at 7pm and for a couple of hours beforehand there was a significant queue. Well, queue is not the right phrase at all – convivial gathering would be more appropriate for the 60 or so folk who fore-gathered, not quite believing their good fortune. Indeed it transpired that many had not really believed the gig was happening  at all, but they’d come out of curiosity to see whether the rumours were true. And all could name at least five or six others who’d not believed the hype.

While we waited for the star of the evening, we all had the chance to partake of Inver’s abbreviated menu, which was pitched perfectly for the clientele and the occasion. Inver served some of their classics to the hungry throng, and managed to do so despite the generally chaotic atmosphere the prospect of live music had created.

At 9 or so KT emerged from the kitchens (??) to an audience tightly packed into the middle room of the restaurant, with many standing on benches, chairs and seats, trying to get a view of  the singer. The music was loud, celebratory and fab, the banter light, engaging and witty, but it was over too quickly.

And what of the music? Well, KT was promoting her new album ‘Tiger Suit’ (for the Chinese year of the tiger apparently) produced by Jim Abbiss, known for his work with Arctic Monkeys, Adele, Kasabian, Editors, and many more. Apparently its a blend of acoustic and techno sounds, called somewhat clunkily Nature Techno.

The upshot was that the dimunitive songstress belted through her set with some fantastic reworkings of her big hits from her previous albums, (Eye to the Telescope and Drastic Fantastic). Highlights for the crowd were, of course, Suddenly I See and Black Horse and the Cherry Tree, but everything was received with the acclaim it was due.

One might safely say that Inver rocked last night. We just hope this is not an one-off, and that there are more evenings like this at what has to be considered one of Cowal’s outstanding assets.

KTTunstall.com

Inver Cottage

All photos C.S.Dixon-Spain