Multiple Grammy Award-winner Shawn Colvin—with 13 superlative albums, a critically acclaimed memoir, and a non-stop national and international touring schedule—teams up with Grammy-nominated Scottish musician and captivating performer and songwriter KT Tunstall—who balances introspective folk and energetic rock—for a magical evening of music.
More about Shawn Colvin
Shawn Colvin stopped the industry in its tracks with her arresting 1989 debut, Steady On. The following spring, Colvin took home the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album, establishing herself as a mainstay in the singer-songwriter genre. In the ensuing 30 years, Colvin has won three Grammy Awards, released 13 superlative albums, written a memoir, maintained a non-stop touring schedule, appeared on countless television and radio programs, had her songs featured in major motion pictures, and created a remarkable canon of work.
Colvin triumphed at the 1998 Grammy Awards, winning both Record and Song of the Year for the Top 10 hit Sunny Came Home, from the platinum-selling album A Few Small Repairs.
Her inspiring and candid memoir, Diamond In The Rough, was published by Harper Collins in 2012. Diamond In The Rough looks back over Colvin's rich lifetime of highs and lows with stunning insight and candor. Through its pages, we witness the story of a woman honing her artistry, finding her voice, and making herself whole.
Colvin was recognized for her career accomplishments when she was honored with the 2016 Lifetime Achievement Trailblazer Award by the Americana Music Association. Presenting her with this prestigious award was Bonnie Raitt. Said Raitt, “She's simply one of the best singers I've ever heard—and a truly gifted and deep songwriter and guitarist … She was groundbreaking when she emerged and continues to inspire me and the legions of fans and other singer/songwriters coming up in her wake.”
In September 2019, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Steady On, Colvin released a newly recorded version of her landmark debut. Colvin crafts a truly mesmerizing reinvention, performing the album with just her voice and guitar. The Steady On 30th Anniversary Acoustic Edition strips each song to the core, placing Colvin's songwriting masterclass on full display. “I've played these songs countless times, primarily as a solo acoustic artist,” she says. “All in all, this is the incarnation that feels most genuine. This represents who I am as an artist and all I ever wanted to be, and I believe it does its predecessor proud.”
Colvin was recently honored with an induction into the 2019 Austin City Limits Hall of Fame, alongside legendary artists Lyle Lovett and Buddy Guy. In a moving induction speech, Jackson Browne praised her as ”ineffable” — ‘that which is impossible to express in words’ — and extolled, ”Not many writers are able to do what Shawn does. It's a very special way of relating what really matters. It takes an original to get our attention. Shawn is utterly original in her singing, and original in what she speaks about in her songs.”
Over the course of three decades, Colvin has established herself as a captivating performer and a revered storyteller, well-deserving of the commendation of her peers and the devoted audiences who have been inspired by her artistry. And as she enters her third decade as a songwriter and performer, she continues to reaffirm her status as a vital voice in music.
More about KT Tunstall
KT Tunstall made her mark on the music scene in 2004 with her multi-platinum debut album, Eye to the Telescope. The album featured global hits like Black Horse and the Cherry Tree and Suddenly I See, establishing Tunstall as a skilled artist in balancing introspective folk and energetic rock. Tunstall describes her style as a combination of troubadour, acoustic guitar-driven emotion, and a rocker side with sharper edges.
In recent years, she has explored a trilogy of records, each focusing on a specific concept: soul, body, and mind. KIN (2016) represented the soul, WAX (2018) embodied the body, and the latest release, NUT (2022), explores the mind.
Produced by Martin Terefe, who co-wrote her 2005 hit Other Side of the World, NUT draws inspiration from Tunstall’s love of percussive West African grooves, using them as a metaphor for the learning patterns of the mind. The album is eclectic, seamlessly blending different musical styles. The song Canyons, driven by a grimy, heavy rock riff, explores the canyon-like physiology of the brain. Throughout NUT, lyrics and sound delve into Tunstall's personal evolution and the universal theme of how we all evolve through repeated behaviors and reactions to life experiences.
The track Private Eyes reflects Tunstall’s encounters with the downsides of fame, while Three summarizes the trilogy’s arc, inspired by a journal practice where she wrote multiple entries on a single topic from the perspectives of mind, body, and soul.
Tunstall approached NUT differently from her previous records, emphasizing the need for a fresh approach and avoiding creative repetition. She expressed excitement for the challenge, emphasizing the importance of making an exciting and meaningful record that she loves, all while having fun in the process.